Investigation of Psychological Resilience and Happiness Levels of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder According to Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation and Various Demographic Variables

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the levels of psychological resilience and happiness among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in relation to their participation in leisure-time physical activity and various demographic variables, and to assess the relationship between psychological resilience and happiness within the framework of theoretical approaches grounded in positive psychology.

Method: The study sample consists of a total of 200 volunteer parents 110 women (55.0%) and 90 men (45.0%), who live in the central district of Balıkesir and have children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. During the data collection process, the Short Psychological Resilience Scale, developed by Smith et al. (2008) to assess levels of psychological resilience and adapted into Turkish by Doğan (2015); to measure levels of happiness, the Oxford Happiness Scale Short Form, developed by Hills and Argyle (2002) and adapted into Turkish by Doğan and Çötok (2011), along with a demographic information form prepared by the researcher, were used. The data were collected online, analyzed using the SPSS software package, and subjected to the t-test for independent groups, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and linear regression.

Results: The study findings revealed that parents’ total happiness scores differed significantly according to educational status. It was found that total scores for psychological resilience differed significantly based on gender and participation in leisure-time physical activity. It was also found that psychological resilience is a statistically significant and positive predictor of happiness levels. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between total scores for psychological resilience and happiness levels.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a strong association between psychological resilience and happiness among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, it was determined that the psychological resilience levels of parents who participate in leisure-time physical activity differ significantly from those of parents who do not participate in such activities. The findings suggest that participation in leisure-time physical activity may be associated with parents’ psychological resilience.

Keywords

• Autism
• Leisure Time
• Physical Activity
• Psychological Resilience
• Happiness

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu Olan Çocukların Anne ve Babalarında Psikolojik Sağlamlık ve Mutluluk Düzeylerinin Serbest Zaman Fiziksel Aktivitesine Katılım Durumu ve Çeşitli Demografik Değişkenlere Göre İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırma, otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocukların anne ve babalarının psikolojik sağlamlık ve mutluluk düzeylerini serbest zaman fiziksel aktivitesine katılım durumu ve çeşitli demografik değişkenler açısından incelemek ve psikolojik sağlamlık ile mutluluk arasındaki ilişkiyi pozitif psikoloji temelli kuramsal yaklaşımlar çerçevesinde değerlendirmektir.

Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini Balıkesir il merkezinde yaşayan, otizm spektrum bozukluğu tanısı almış çocuklara sahip 110’u kadın (%55,0) ve 90’ı erkek (%45,0) olmak üzere toplam 200 gönüllü ebeveyn oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama sürecinde, psikolojik sağlamlık düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla Smith ve arkadaşları (2008) tarafından geliştirilen ve Doğan (2015) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlanan Kısa Psikolojik Sağlamlık Ölçeği; mutluluk düzeylerini ölçmek için ise Hills ve Argyle (2002) tarafından geliştirilen ve Doğan ile Çötok (2011) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlanan Oxford Mutluluk Ölçeği Kısa Formu ile araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan demografik bilgi formu kullanılmıştır. Veriler çevrim içi ortamda toplanmış, SPSS paket programı aracılığıyla analiz edilmiş ve bağımsız gruplar için t-testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA), korelasyon ile doğrusal regresyon yöntemlerinden yararlanılmıştır.

Bulgular: Araştırma bulguları, ebeveynlerin mutluluk düzeyi toplam puanlarının eğitim durumu değişkenine göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Psikolojik sağlamlık düzeyi toplam puanlarının ise cinsiyet ve serbest zaman fiziksel aktivitesine katılım durumuna göre anlamlı biçimde farklılaştığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca psikolojik sağlamlığın, mutluluk düzeyinin istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ve pozitif bir yordayıcısı olduğu saptanmıştır. Psikolojik sağlamlık ile mutluluk düzeyi toplam puanları arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Sonuç: Bu çalışma, otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocukların anne ve babalarında psikolojik sağlamlık ile mutluluk arasında güçlü bir ilişki bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca, serbest zaman fiziksel aktivitesine katılan ebeveynlerin psikolojik sağlamlık düzeylerinin fiziksel aktiviteye katılmayan ebeveynlere göre anlamlı düzeyde farklılaştığı belirlenmiştir. Bulgular, serbest zaman fiziksel aktivitesine katılımın ebeveynlerin psikolojik sağlamlığı ile ilişkili olabileceğine işaret etmektedir.

Keywords

• Otizm
• Serbest Zaman
• Fiziksel Aktivite
• Psikolojik Sağlamlık
• Mutluluk

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