AIM: This definitive-type study; aim to determine hardships undergone by mothers with mentally and physicaly handicapped children, hopelessness and social support from family.
METHOD: The study was done at two special education and rehabilitation centers that provide education for mentally and physically retarded children in Gaziantep city center. This descriptive study was carried out between 01 March and 31 June 2007. The sample of study consisted of total 95 mothers who have mental and physical handicapped children. Data were collected by means of perceived Social Support From Family Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale and developed by researchers questionnaire form. In the evaluation of the data; frequency, percentage, chi square, kruskall wallis, varyans and correlation analyses were used.
RESULTS: Mothers child 62.6% male and their age was between from 6 to 10 and the mean age of mothers was 33.2±0,7 years and 65.3% mothers educations levels were primary school. In the study, it was determined that 46.3% of the mothers feel indisposed point of the view of society, 38.9% experience difficulty with surroundings about communication, 75.8% were concerned about the future of their child, 46.3% have fear guilty for handicapped of child, 61.1% were forced treatment process of their child, 45.3% never receive any social support from their surroundings. Mean of Social Support From Family Scale was 22.2±0.9, hopelessness 9.3±0.3.
CONCLUSION: It was seen that there was a negative correlation between the mothers social support and hopelessness levels and that the more the mothers perceived social support levels increased, the more their hopelessness levels decreased.
Key words: Handicapped child, hopelessness, social support Article Language: Turkish English
|
