Emotional stability among parents of normal children and children with special needs

Maleki and Gatab (2013) conducted a study in order to compare the degree of stress among

parents with normal children and children with mental retardation. The sample consisted of 120

parents whose children had metal retardation, and another 120 parents whose children were

typically normal. The questionnaire on “Resources and Stress” was used to examine the level of

parental stress. It was found that the parents whose children had mental retardation had

significantly greater stress than the other group. And among these parents, the degree of stress

was equal for both mother and father. Also, the gender of the child did not affect the stress level

of the parents. However, the age of the child did, soas the child grew, the level of stress the

parents underwent grew as well.

Morgan and Sanders (1996) conducted a study to examine the stress and adjustment among those

parents who have children suffering from Autism, Down Syndrome, and those who are

developmentally normal. The sample consisted of 54 families, where each group is represented

by 18 families. It was found that, comparatively, the parents of Autistic children reported more

family stress and adjustment problems, and the parents of developmentally normal children

reported the least. And although the parents of the disabled children reported more stress

regarding taking care of the child, they were resilient in adjusting to the presence of the disabled

family member as well.

Khaique et al. (2013) examined the needs and expectations of parents with intellectually disabled

children. The sample consisted of 45 parents who had children with intellectual disability. The

Family Needs Survey Scale was used to understand the parents’ needs. It was found that parents

have strong needs to enquire about information regarding the current and future services

available in the society, basic expenses, teaching strategies and therapies, day care services etc.
Sivberg (2001a), conducted a study which looks at the strain on the family system as well as the

level of coping behaviour of the parents, in families with a child diagnosed with an autistic

spectrum disorder as compared to families in a control group (children without autistic spectrum

disorder).The sample consisted of 66 parents from total of 37 families with a child who had an

autistic disorder and was still living at home and a control group which had no children with

autistic disorder. The tools used to study incudes – Sense of Coherence Test, Purpose in Life test,

Ways of coping Questionnaire. The results show that the level of strain on the family system is

negatively related to the level of coping, the level of strain on the family is greater in families

with a child who has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Moreover, the level of strain on the family

system is greater in families with a child who has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder then in those

without the disorder. The control group scored more than the experimental group on the scales-

suggesting that their coping strategies being more effective.

Ravidranadan and Raju, (2008), conducted a study that aims to test the Emotional Intelligence

and Quality of Life of Parents of Children with special needs. The study was conducted on a

sample of 200 parents in which 100 were parents of children with special needs(experimental

group) and 100 were parents of normal children (control group). The 5 categories of special

needs are ADHD, Autistic Disorder, Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation and Learning

disabilities. The instruments used in this study are Emotional Intelligence Scale and Quality of

Life Scale. The results shows that the parents of children with special needsare significantly

different from the parents of normal children, i.e., the experimental group scored less in all the

variables compared to the control group.