Majid Omidi khankahdani; .Gholam Ali Afrooz; sogand ghasemzadeh; zahra Naghsh
Abstract
Abstract
Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal disorders, and the birth of a child with this syndrome can greatly impact the psychological state of parents and other family members. The purpose of this research was to study the factors that affect the quality of life in families of children ...
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Abstract
Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal disorders, and the birth of a child with this syndrome can greatly impact the psychological state of parents and other family members. The purpose of this research was to study the factors that affect the quality of life in families of children with Down syndrome, based on the lived experiences of both families and professionals in this area. The research method used was qualitative, and the study included 14 families and 15 professionals who shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews. Families were selected from the special education system, while professionals were selected via snowball sampling until saturation was reached. Data were coded in three stages (open, axial, and selective coding) and analyzed. The open codes consisted of 24 concepts, while axial codes included supports received, acceptance, coping skills, child performance (function), worry, and future security. The lived experiences of families and professionals showed that receiving support, accepting the child by families and community, family coping skills, child performance, and future security are all important factors for the quality of life in families of children with Down syndrome.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Quality of life is a multidimensional concept that includes objective components such as health, education, income, security, as well as subjective components such as happiness, life satisfaction and meaning in life (Tripathi, Rai & Rompay-Bartels, 2021). The attitude towards individuals with disabilities has changed a lot over the years, as a result, families' role in supporting them has become increasingly important (Brown, 2010). Down syndrome is a common chromosomal disorder that affects people all over the world. People with Down syndrome often have emotional, psychological, physical, social, and economic impacts on their families. (Eckdahl, 2018; Afrooz, 2009) There have been some studies on the quality of life of families of children with Down syndrome, but more research is still needed in this area. The present study investigated the experience of families and professionals with children with Down syndrome to understand what factors impact the quality of life of the family of children with Down syndrome.
Research Question(s)
Based on the lived experiences of families and experts, what are the factors affecting the quality of life of families with children with Down syndrome?
Literature Review
Families of children with Down syndrome also report experiencing despair, having weak coping skills, and feeling a low level of life satisfaction. (Krueger et al, 2021). Families of children with Down syndrome report more well-being when they are able to participate in groups and social networks where they can receive support and information. (Roll & Bowers, 2019). The research results indicate the impact of perceived social support, child functioning, and socio-economic status on the quality of life of the families of those with Down syndrome (Rezende et al, 2016). Also, many research studies have explored the satisfaction of families in various aspects, including acceptance, commitment to family, and pleasure (Ajuwon, 2012), dissatisfaction with health care, low income, and high medical costs (Caples et al, 2018; Babaei et al, 2017). This exhaustion and burnout, which has different objective and subject aspects, are the result of physical characteristics and cognitive deficiencies, which are very important from parents' point of view (Marron, et al, 2013). In some cases, parents refer to the events as a valuable experience that has positively impacted their lives and has helped them to develop a new perspective on life and on their own personal development (Moreira et al, 2016; Skotko et al, 2011). According to parents of children with Down syndrome, the most important positive experiences involve influencing other parents, their child's achievements, acceptance, and social connection. Parents also experienced negative experiences such as medical challenges, lack of acceptance, lack of specialized support, and lack of support from government organizations (Farkas et al, 2019; Hillman et al, 2013; Siklos & Kerns, 2006).
Methodology
The research was qualitative and used the descriptive phenomenological method to study the perspective of psychologists working in the field of Down syndrome and of the parents of children with Down syndrome. In the study, 14 families of children with Down syndrome and 15 experts participated (who were either specialists, school teachers or professors). Families of children with Down syndrome were recruited through schools, while experts on the topic were selected based on their expertise and their work in the field of Down syndrome and a semi-structured interview was used to collect data and the average time of the interviews was about 45 minutes. As the interviews took place, an analysis of their text was done in order to identify common themes and patterns. Sampling continued until saturation was reached. After the interviews, the researchers extracted and coded the common concepts and patterns by using the MAXQDA software. The researchers analyzed the results based on the Colizzis Method which has several steps: reading all the descriptions; extracting important words and sentences; providing meaning for the extracted important sentences; defining the categories; combining the results; comprehensive description and final reliability of the findings (Morrow et al, 2015). After coding, in order to data accuracy, the participants were contacted by phone and received their opinion regarding the researchers' perception of their conversations in the interviews.
Results
These were the themes that were extracted from the interviews with parents and professionals: support, acceptance, coping skills, performance of children with Down syndrome, and concern for their future.
Conclusion
The results showed that the factors of support, acceptance, coping skills, performance of a child with Down syndrome, concern and future security have an effect on the quality of life of families of children with Down syndrome. Support included support received from family members, official institutions, and informal organizations and institutions. Parents of children with Down syndrome state that it is not possible for one person to meet the needs of a child with Down syndrome, and that the more family members participate in meeting their needs and helping them, the more mental pressure and fatigue that parents experience, reduces.
Most of the participants in the research complained about the lack of laws appropriate to the characteristics of these people and their families, the temporary nature or non-implementation of some of the existing laws. Regarding the financial support and facilities provided by the relevant institutions, the participants had a common view of their inadequacy and the inappropriate way of providing it.
Regarding the issue of specialized support, the participants believed that considering the special mental and physical needs of people with Down syndrome, it is necessary to establish specialized treatment centers and also train counselors and psychologists in this field. Another important and significant issue was the behavior of the medical staff with the families, which the families did not have a good experience, especially from the moment of birth. Some medical care personnel have disappointed the families about the child's future.
The support received from people around and informal parenting groups brings a higher quality of life for the family of children with Down syndrome. Communicating with other families in similar situations is a source of learning and emotional support.
Acceptance, at the family level makes family members learn coping skills, use them and continue to make efforts to help people with Down syndrome and help them to reach the maximum possible level. Social acceptance, provide opportunity for participating in the community of families and their children. Families with higher life and communication skills, have a higher degree of adjustment and resilience.
If parents have a positive view on religious values and beliefs, it helps them accept a child with Down syndrome, and see the child as a divine gift and test. Also, some parents change their opinions and beliefs after giving birth to a child with Down syndrome and choose a different worldview. Families reported greater satisfaction when their child demonstrated more self-help skills, academic achievement and success in professional activities. One of the concerns expressed by parents, was the future marriage of their child with Down syndrome and their siblings.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the families and professionals who provided us with their valuable experiences.
Keywords: Quality of Life, Family, Down syndrome, Lived Experience.
Sogand Ghasemzadeh; .Gholam Ali Afrooz; simin hosseinian; mohammad Gholami Fesharaki
Abstract
Family is known as the core of child and adolescent care and it plays an important role in the treatment of behavioral problems in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of FCI on the behavioral consequences of Iranian children and adolescents. This study ...
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Family is known as the core of child and adolescent care and it plays an important role in the treatment of behavioral problems in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of FCI on the behavioral consequences of Iranian children and adolescents. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published Persian or English articles (during the years 2011 to 2020) in the field of FCI in the Iranian child and adolescent community using an internal database such as SID, Iran Medex, MagIran, Civilica, Irandoc, and English Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, Science Direct and Google Scholar by combining the appropriate words. In this study, the Standard Mean Difference index (SMD) and STATA software were used to analyze the data. Among the 103 articles found in the initial search, only 38 articles (10 (26%) articles on adolescents, 28 (74%) articles on children) were eligible for inclusion in the study. The SMD index of FCI compared to the control group is generally equal to 1.60 with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (1.31 to 1.90) and in the child sample equal to 1.39 with a 95% CI (1.31 to 1.90). The adolescent sample was reported to be 2.18 with a 95% CI (1.44 to 2.91). The results of this study showed that FCI in children and especially Iranian adolescents have good therapeutic efficacy.
tayebe taziki; Khoda Morad Momeni; jahangir karami; .Gholam Ali Afrooz
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the intervention with mindfulness on the quality of life and psychological well-being of mothers of students with intellectual disabilities. The research population included all mothers of students with mental disabilities in Golestan province, 30 of them were ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the intervention with mindfulness on the quality of life and psychological well-being of mothers of students with intellectual disabilities. The research population included all mothers of students with mental disabilities in Golestan province, 30 of them were selected by a simple random sampling method and participated in a quasi-experimental design with a control group and a non-identical two-group design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Among the above sample, 15 people in the experimental group and 15 people in the control group were randomly assigned. Then, a mindfulness-based intervention program was performed for 8 group sessions. To evaluate the research variables, Quality Of Life (World Health Organization, 1994), and Psychological Wellbeing Scale (Ryff, 1980) were used in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Data obtained from the control and experimental groups were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and repeated measures analysis of variance. The above findings showed significant quality of life and psychological well-being (at the level of p <0.05). The above results were maintained after two months of follow-up. Overall, it can be concluded that mindfulness-based intervention can increase the quality of life and psychological well-being of mothers of students with intellectual disabilities.
Mohammad Ashori; .Gholam Ali Afrooz; Sogand Ghasemzadeh
Abstract
The aim of the current meta-analysis was to determine the biological, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of relative parents and irrelative parents that having more than one exceptional child in Iran. Study procedure was meta-analysis. This research specifies the effect size of the biological, ...
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The aim of the current meta-analysis was to determine the biological, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of relative parents and irrelative parents that having more than one exceptional child in Iran. Study procedure was meta-analysis. This research specifies the effect size of the biological, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of relative parents and irrelative parents that having more than one exceptional child by using meta-analysis technique and integrating the results of different studies. On the whole, 9 methodologically acceptable studies were selected and met analysis was done on them. Sources of data search were scientific documents in universities, noor specialized magazines database (Normans), Scientific Information Database (SID) and Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IRANDOC). The research tool was meta-analysis checklist. Finding of research showed that the rate of effect size of biological, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of relative parents and irrelative parents that having more than one exceptional child in Iran was high. Therefore, it seems that the education programs before of marriage can be used as a method to prevent the relative marriage. On the other hand, planning to prevent of the impairments of biological, cognitive and psychosocial characteristics of relative parents that having more than one exceptional child has particular importance.
Abbas Sheikh mohammadi; .Gholam Ali Afrooz; Ali Akbar Arjmandnia; Rozita Davari Ashtiani; Bagher Gobari Bonab
Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating role of parental coping strategies with children's negative emotions in the association of ADHD symptoms and children's social skills. Method: The present study is a correlational study. Participants were 191 children 7 to 13 years old ...
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Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating role of parental coping strategies with children's negative emotions in the association of ADHD symptoms and children's social skills. Method: The present study is a correlational study. Participants were 191 children 7 to 13 years old (female: 43 %, male: 56 %) and their parents. Parents completed the Conners’s Parents Rating Scale-Revised: short form (CPRS-R: S), social skills rating system (SSRS), and Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES). The SPSS software (version 26) was used for analyzing the data. Results: Regression analysis results showed that ADHD symptoms and parental coping strategies with children's negative emotions can predict social skills in children. Moderation analysis showed that parental supportive strategies moderates the relation of ADHD symptoms and social skills. Conclusion: Based on these findings using supportive strategies by parents have effect on the association of ADHD symptoms and social skills. The clinical and functional implications of the results have discussed.
Negin Motamed Yeganeh; Gholam Ali Afrooz; Mohsen Shokoohi Yekta; Rachel Weber
Abstract
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. These children are exposed to a lot of problems in the executive functions areas. The issue of neuroplasticity reveals the importance of neuropsychological interventions, since interruptions ...
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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. These children are exposed to a lot of problems in the executive functions areas. The issue of neuroplasticity reveals the importance of neuropsychological interventions, since interruptions in early childhood executive functions may lead to further functional impairment. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the designed intervention program on the Executive functions of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest-follow up design with the control group. The statistical population of the present study included all the boys and girls students 7-10 years old in Tehran. Among eligible students, 40 individuals along with their mothers were selected using the non-random purposive sampling method and randomly divided into the two groups. The experimental group (N=20) were trained by twelve sessions of Metacognitive Executive Functioning intervention program and the control group (N=20) remained on the waiting list. Data were collected by Clinical interview checklist, the Tehran Stanford-Binet intelligence test and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions. The results indicated a significant effect of Family-based Neuropsychological program on increasing the Executive Functions of children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (p<0.05). This treatment can be a potentially promising intervention for young children with ADHD.
maryam asghari; .Gholam Ali Afrooz; Parisa Tajalli; afsaneh ghanbari panah
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to comparing marital satisfaction between mothers with one visually impaired child, mothers with more than one visually impaired children and mothers with normal children. The present research was a causal-comparative research and the target population of this study was ...
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The aim of the present study was to comparing marital satisfaction between mothers with one visually impaired child, mothers with more than one visually impaired children and mothers with normal children. The present research was a causal-comparative research and the target population of this study was mothers of normal children and mothers with visually impaired children in Tehran and Karaj in the academic year of 1395-96 in 537 individuals. The sampling method was simple random sampling. The sample size was obtained using the Cochran formula, 224 people (120 mothers with one visually impaired child, 104 mothers with more than one visually impaired children and 120 mothers with normal children). The instruments of this study were Afrooz Marital Satisfaction Scale (AMSS). Analyzing of data is performed using Multivariable Analyze of Variance (MANOVA). The results showed that there were significant differences in marital satisfaction between the three groups (p< .01). Also, the results showed that there were significant differences in Marital Satisfaction Subscales between the three groups (p< .01). On this basis, we can conclude that there were significant differences in Marital Satisfaction between the three groups and Researchers can provide a field of psychological interventions.
kosar bereyhi; shahla pakdaman; .Gholam Ali Afrooz
Abstract
Abstract Objective: this study aimed to design an creative educational application for family-centered reading and evaluation of its effectiveness in reading skills among the slow-paced students with Down syndrome. Methods: this applied semi-experimental study is a per-test-post-test project, follow-up ...
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Abstract Objective: this study aimed to design an creative educational application for family-centered reading and evaluation of its effectiveness in reading skills among the slow-paced students with Down syndrome. Methods: this applied semi-experimental study is a per-test-post-test project, follow-up with the test and control groups. Twenty slow-paced students with Down syndrome were randomly selected and assigned in two test and control groups. Wechsler IQ test, TOLD test and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) were run for students in the per-test, and TOLD test was run in the post-test and a half month after follow-up stage. Results were analyzed with Analyze of Co-variance (ANCOVA) and repeated measures analysis. Results: in general, results showed a significant difference in reading between test and control groups and the difference remained sustainable in the follow-up stage. Conclusion: innovation in family- centered reading application was effective in increase in reading skills among the slow-paced students with Down syndrome and this effect remained sustainable. Education by new technologies in the form of software for children with Down syndrome should be seriously considered. Family- centered reading application Can be used for teaching children, families and educators.
elham hakimirad; ghilamali afroz; ahmad behpajooh
Volume 4, Issue 16 , September 2014, , Pages 77-96
Abstract
The purpose of this study was investigating the effectiveness of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) on reducing symptoms of children with autism disorder.Twenty four autistic children (30-54 months old) were selected from a rehabilitation center in Tehran and assigned randomly in to two equal groups ...
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The purpose of this study was investigating the effectiveness of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) on reducing symptoms of children with autism disorder.Twenty four autistic children (30-54 months old) were selected from a rehabilitation center in Tehran and assigned randomly in to two equal groups of experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 70 sessions (3 days per week, 20 minutes for each session) of RIT through the intervention. The GARZ questionnaire was used as the pre-test and the post-test for the two groups. ANCOVA analysis showed that there were significant differences between mean scores of autisticsymptoms (social interaction, communication and stereotype movements) in two groups. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of naturalistic behavioral interventionfor improving autistic symptoms in young autistic children.
Keivan Kakabaraei; Ali Akbar Arjmandnia; Gholam Ali Afrooz
Volume 2, Issue 7 , October 2012, , Pages 1-26
Abstract
This study is aimed at examining the relationship between coping strategies and social support and mental wellbeing scales in parents. In this applied and correlational research, the population consists of all parents with exceptional and normal children in Kermanshah City. The sample consists of 800 ...
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This study is aimed at examining the relationship between coping strategies and social support and mental wellbeing scales in parents. In this applied and correlational research, the population consists of all parents with exceptional and normal children in Kermanshah City. The sample consists of 800 parents who were selected by random and multi-stage sampling. Coping Strategies Scale (CISS-SF, Cohen, 2006), Social Support Scale (MSPSS, Zymt, 1988), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS, Diener, 1985), and positive and negative affect schedule (Watson, 1988)are used for data collection. Results show that there is a significant positive relationship between scores of multiple dimensions of social support, life satisfaction, and positive effect, and there is a negative significant relationship between the scores of the above said with the negative effect. Also, the relationship between the problem-oriented coping strategy and satisfaction with life is found to be positive and insignificant, while the said coping strategy has a positive significant relationship with positive and negative effect. Moreover, there is a significant positive relationship between avoidance coping strategy, life satisfaction, and positive effect, and there is a negative insignificant relationship between the scores of the above said with the negative effect. It can therefore be concluded that since social support and coping styles are related to mental well-being of parents, responsible organizations are recommended to provide timely and free-of-charge psychological services for parents.
Mehdi Ghodrati; Gholam Ali Afroz; Parviz Sharifi Dar amadi; Heydar ali Homan
Volume 1, Issue 3 , October 2011, , Pages 1-22
Abstract
Objective: The present study aims to acquire more specific information concerning the prediction of creativity in gifted students on the basis of their age, intelligence quotient (IQ), and their parental marital satisfaction. Method: This is a correlation study. The statistical population was the total ...
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Objective: The present study aims to acquire more specific information concerning the prediction of creativity in gifted students on the basis of their age, intelligence quotient (IQ), and their parental marital satisfaction. Method: This is a correlation study. The statistical population was the total of all gifted high school students of both special education and regular schools in Tehran, whose intelligence quotients were higher than 120.The sample size consisted of 164male and 166 female students, The sample wa selected through a cluster random sampling.. Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test (IQ) (Raven, 1941), and Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) (figural form) (Torrance, 2002) were administered among the students and Afrooz Marital Satisfaction Scale (AMSS) (1390) was completed with the student’s parents. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that parental marital satisfaction was an important and significant predictor of children’s creativity. Also, IQ and age were second and third significant predictors of creativity. Conclusion and recommendations: Results indicated that high martial satisfaction of parents and intelligence were good backgrounds for the development and nurturance of creativity in children.
Daryosh Amini; Gholam ali Afroz; Hasan Ahadi; Parviz Sharifi Daramadi; Heydar Ali Homan
Volume 1, Issue 2 , July 2011, , Pages 1-18
Abstract
Objective: The study has been conducted to compare the instruction effects of inductive thinking strategy with the traditional teaching approach on school achievement of students with mental retardation. Method: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test post-test plan with control group has ...
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Objective: The study has been conducted to compare the instruction effects of inductive thinking strategy with the traditional teaching approach on school achievement of students with mental retardation. Method: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test post-test plan with control group has been adapted. A sample of 60 subjects were randomly selected from the population of the fifth- grader students of Hamedan special education schools, A representative sample was randomly assigned into two experimental groups and two control groups. (Each included 15 male and 15 female subjects.) Prior to the research phase both groups received a pre-test. Designed for a science course, the experimental group was assigned under the inductive thinking instruction technique and was instructed by well trained teachers for a period of four months. The number of sessions summed up to at least 24 thirty-minute sessions in a Learning Disability Center in Hamedan. Meanwhile, the control group (males and females) received their instructions in a traditionally presented technique of teacher- Student interactions. Results and recommendations: The school performances of both groups were evaluated by a post-test. The findings showed that the amount of the achievement of the students who received the inductive thinking instructions was far higher than the students who took the same science course by the traditional approach.