A comparative study of children with specific learning disorder: symptom severity, perception of parenting styles, parental stress, competence and homework situation

The first aim of the study is to adapt the Specific Learning Disability Specific Stress, Homework Situation and Parental Competencies Scale (ÖÖG-SEY) into Turkish language. Mothers of children diagnosed with SLD were also investigated in terms of their stress coping styles, child rearing styles. The sample consisted of 161 children (80 children with diagnosis of SLD, 81 children in control group ) and their mothers and their teachers. Stress Coping Styles Scale (SCSS), Parental Rearing Behaviors Scale (s-EMBU-C) (Child Form), Specific Learning Disorder Specific Stress, Homework Situation and Parental Competencies Scale (ÖÖG-SEY), Specific Learning Disability Symptom Checklist (MOYA) were administered. Pearson Correlation Coefficients were computed, Cronbach Alpha Coefficients and test-retest values were obtained. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), Student's T test, Man Whitney U Test were conducted. Turkish version of ÖÖG-SEY was found to have acceptable reliabiliy and validity indicators. It was found that mothers of SLD group were more likely to use emotion-oriented coping styles, were less likely to have parenting competencies, have more homework conflicts with their children, were more comparative, rejective, overprotective and showing less emotional warmth. For mothers of SLD group; significant positive relationships were found between stress levels and emotion-focused coping styles, between parenting competencies and problem-focused coping styles. Significant positive relationships were also found in between the rejection perception of the children in SLD group and mother- child homework conflict, mothers' and teachers' ratings of severity of SLD symptoms. Results were discussed under the light of literature.