Investigation of problem solving skills and life satisfaction of parents having children with mental retardation

The aim of this study is to investigate the problem solving skills and life satisfaction of parents having children with mental retardation. Relational Screening Method has been used in this research. It is a descriptive study. The study group has comprised of parents of 138 children having mentally handicapped at Sumer Special Education Vocational Training Center (School) and at Milli İrade Special Education Practice Center (School) in province of Erzincan in 2017-2018 academic year. Personal Information Form, The Satisfaction with Life Scale and Problem Solving Scale for adults have been conducted for participants. The data have been analyzed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 20.0 statistical program. When the normality assumptions are met, parametric tests like Pearson Correlation Analysis, Independent Sample t Test and Regression Analysis. have been used, otherwise nonparametric tests like Kruskal Wallis H and Mann Whitney U Test have been used When the results of the study have been evaluated, it has been observed that life satisfaction and problem solving skills of parents having children with mental retardation become different according to gender, income status, diagnosis of their children and how long their children have had special education. However; it has been determined that there is no relationship between some variables such as age, educational status, the child with multiple disabilities and their life satisfaction, also their problem solving skills. In addition, it has been detected parents' -having a child with mental disabilities-problem solving skills, income status, special education period of children and diagnosis of their children predicted life satisfaction significantly.