Hossein Ghamari Givi; Azimeh Sadat Seyyed Barzegar Saghezchi; Maghsoud Nader Pilehrood
Volume 3, Issue 9 , April 2013, , Pages 75-92
Abstract
This study aims at investigating the effectiveness of group sessions in improving the quality of life and family relationships in children with mental disability.The research procedure is experimental with pre-test and post-test design and control group.The statistical population in this study includes ...
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This study aims at investigating the effectiveness of group sessions in improving the quality of life and family relationships in children with mental disability.The research procedure is experimental with pre-test and post-test design and control group.The statistical population in this study includes all families of mentally retarded boy and girl students studying in the exceptional schools in Ardabil. The studysampleis30 families selected via the convenient sampling method and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. For data gathering, the subjects are asked to complete the Quality of Life Questionnaire and Schaefer Family Assessment Device. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) is used to test the hypothesis. The results show that the group session has a significant effect on the quality of life and improves the family relationships in families with mentally retarded children (p≥ 0/01). Emphasizing enhancement of parents ‘awareness, free discussion on worries and learning ways of coping with children’s preoccupations and problem solving skills are effective in improving quality of life and family relationships. All the participants emphasized suggestibility, hostility and withdrawal in their children and insisted on controlling the parents fight over accusing and blaming one another. Researchers suggest that in order to improve parent-child relationship, it would be better if both parents participate in group sessions at the same time.