PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS AS PREDICTORS OF LIFE SATISFACTION IN PARENTS WITH HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

Öz

The purpose of this study was to analyse the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms in parents with handicapped children and to examine their satisfaction with life. Participants were 113 parents of handicapped children. Data for the study were obtained from the Brief Symptom Inventory, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Personal Information Questionnaire. Results indicated that psychiatric symptoms and satisfaction with life exhibited dramatic differences due to the specific handicaps of their children. Except for depression and hostility, all other psychological symptoms were found as predictors of satisfaction with life of the parents with handicapped children. The results found in this study indicate that, the level of negative self-concept and somatization increase as the parents' educational status decreases. As the life satisfaction of the parents gets higher, the negative self-concept and somatization levels decrease. Also, the psychological symptoms of the parents vary according to the type of disability of their children.

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