An examination of the acceptance levels, coping attitudes, and defense mechanisms of parents of children with and without special needs

This study examined the acceptance levels, coping attitudes, and defense mechanisms of parents of children with special needs and parents of children without special needs. A total of 128 participants, 64 from each group, participated in the study. The research was conducted with parents of children residing in Antalya who receive special education support at special education and rehabilitation centers and possess a ÇÖZGER report, as well as with parents of typically developing children living in Antalya. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Porter Parental Acceptance Scale, the Coping Attitudes Scale, and the Defense Mechanisms Test. The data analysis was performed using the SPSS 27.0 program. Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the study. According to the analysis of the scores obtained from the scales used in the study, a significant difference was found between the two groups in the total scores of the Porter Parental Acceptance Scale. A significant difference was also identified between the two groups in the Unconditional Love subscale, one of the scale's subdimensions. No significant difference was observed in the total scores of the other tests compared between the groups.