Evaluation of anxiety levels and coping strategies of the parents who have handicapped children

Research was planned with the aim of determining the anxiety levels and coping strategies of the mothers and fathers who have handicapped children.The study population consisted of parents of 1163 handicapped children who were 15 rehabilitation centers in the city of Malatya, which are working in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education. Of all 405 parents who included in the study and who had handicapped children.Constant State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Coping Strategies Scale and an information form used for the data collection. Data was collected between 1 September and 31 December 2011. Statistical analyses were performed with the use of SPSS software, version 18. Study variables were presented as means and percentages. Data was analyzed with the use of chi-square test, student?s t-test and one-way ANOVA.Mothers constitutes 78.5 % and fathers 21.5% of the study population. The minimum age of the study population was 18 years, the maximum age 65 years and average age 38.0± 9.1 years. It was found that 42.2% of the handicapped children was in 7-14 year age-group, 55.3% of the handicapped children was boy and 57 % was in mentally handicapped category. It was also found that 70.1% of the parents who had handicapped children do not blame anyone because of their child?s disability, 23% blame their neighbours and 24.2% are taking psychiatric support to cope with distress they suffer.There were statistically significant associations between anxiety levels and demographic data. A significant association was also found between the anxiety levels of the parents who had handicapped child and sharing their distress with others, receiving psychiatric support, acceptance of handicapped child by others. A statistically significant relationship was demographic data and coping strategies of the parents who have handicapped children.According to the results of the present work it was found that among parents who have handicapped child, those who receive psychological and social support, the level of the coping with distress is higher.