Investigation of anxiety and social support perceptions of parents with special needs children

The aim of the study is to examine the reasons for the perceived social support and anxiety of parents with special needs children in terms of some variables.For this purpose, demographic variables (parents' age, education level, number of children with special needs, age of the child with special needs, diagnosis of disability of the child) predicts the anxiety level of the parents, the relationship of the variables whose effects were examined with the level of anxiety and perceived social support was examined.The scope of the research consists of the parents of the children attending the Akhisar Special Education Practice 1st and 2nd grade school located in the Akhisar district of Manisa province.The data of the study were studied in Akhisar Special Education Practice 1st and 2nd stage school affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the Akhisar district of Manisa province between the 2012-2022 academic years. All parents whose verbal and written consents were obtained from the children's parents who volunteered to participate in the study were included .Sample selection was not made within the scope of the study, and it is aimed to reach the all children with special needs. Prior to the study, parents evere informed and consent was obtained by sending an information form. By the researcher in order to obtain information about the sociodemographic data for the parents participating in the study they were asked to fill in the "Personal Information Form" prepared, "The Anxiety and Worry Level Measuring Tool for Parents with a Disabled or Persistent Child" and the Revamped Parent Support Scale (PASS). The data obtained within the framework of this information form and scales were analyzed in the computer environment. Considering the data obtained from the study, there was no significant relationship between anxiety levels of the parents who had a child with special needs and their perceptions of social support.