Advertisement

Looking at Life through a Different Window: Group Counselling for the Mothers of Disabled Children

  • Cem TümlüEmail author
  • Ramazan Akdoğan
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
First Online:

Abstract

In this study, the life satisfaction criteria of the mothers of disabled children were determined using focus group interviews, and group counselling was actioned with a group aimed at overcoming psychological difficulties related to these criteria. The effect on life satisfaction and psychological symptoms from the group counselling, which basically aimed to focus on the positive aspects of life, was tested experimentally also involving a control group. The life satisfaction criteria were defined in terms of the themes of experiencing: difficulty seeing positive life events, difficulties in marital relationships, accepting the child’s disability, feeling excluded and not receiving social support, difficulties appreciating personal strengths and effectiveness, and difficulty in making time for self. A group-counseling program of eight sessions was developed in light of the literature and expert opinions, but especially in terms of the themes obtained from focus group interviews. During the implementation of the program, the experimental group participants were helped to raise awareness of the difficulties related to having a child with a disability and to develop ways to cope with these difficulties. No intervention was undertaken with the control group, although those participants undertook the same counseling program after the completion of the experiment. At the end of the study, it was determined that the mothers of disabled children who had received group counselling had increased levels of life satisfaction and reduced levels of anxiety, depression, negative self belief, somatisation, and hostility. In the light of these findings and previous reports in the literature, there is a growing belief that in the application of counselling, the subjective perceptions of mothers with disabled children should be taken into consideration to increase life satisfaction and indirectly decrease psychological symptoms.

Keywords

Life satisfaction Psychological symptoms Mothers of disabed children Group counselling 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no any conflict of interests.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional of the investigators and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. In this context the study was carried out within the framework of the institutional board decision of the Anadolu University Research Institute for Individuals with Disabilities (2015–20/1), and relevant law (93–496).

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all the mothers of disabled children included in the study.

References

  1. Akdoğan, R. (2016). A holistic approach to cope with depression and hopelessness for parents of special needs children. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 8(2), 134–150.Google Scholar
  2. Akkök, F. (2003). Farklı özelliğe sahip olan çocuk aileleri ve ailelerle yapılan çalışmalar. In A. Ataman (Ed.), Özel Eğitime Giriş (pp. 121–142). Ankara: Gündüz Education Press.Google Scholar
  3. Baghdadli, A., Pry, R., Michelon, C., & Rattaz, C. (2014). Impact of autism in adolescents on parental quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 23(6), 1859–1868.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0635-6.Google Scholar
  4. Barnett, D., Clements, M., Kaplan-Estrin, M., & Fialka, J. (2003). Building new dreams: Supporting parents' adaptation to their child with special needs. Infants & Young Children, 16(3), 184–200.Google Scholar
  5. Bayat, M. (2007). Evidence of resilience in families of children with autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51(9), 702–714.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.00960.x.Google Scholar
  6. Beresford, B. A. (1994). Resources and strategies: How parents cope with the care of a disabled child. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35(1), 171–209.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1994.tb01136.x.Google Scholar
  7. Bogdan, R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (1992). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory methods. NY: Allyn and Bacon.Google Scholar
  8. Bowling, A. (2002). Research methods in health: Investigating health and health services. Philadelphia: McGraw-Hill House.Google Scholar
  9. Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2007). Deneysel desenler. Ankara: Pegem.Google Scholar
  10. Caracelli, V. J., & Greene, J. C. (1997). Crafting mixed-method evaluation designs. In J. C. Greene & V. J. Caracelli (Eds.), Advances in mixed-method evaluation: The challenges and benefits of integrating diverse paradigms (pp. 19–32). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
  11. Çimşir, E. (2017). Aile içi ilişkiler ve engelli bireyin ruh sağlığı. In R. Akdoğan (Ed.), Engellilerde Ruh Sağlığı (pp. 60–78). Eskişehir: Anadolu Üniversitesi Yayınları.Google Scholar
  12. Conti, R. (2015). Compassionate parenting as a key to satisfaction, efficacy and meaning among mothers of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(7), 2008–2018.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2360-6.Google Scholar
  13. Creedy, D. K., Ludlow, T., Beggs, J., Collis, D., Irvine, D., Price, D., Norton, L., Cosgrove, S., & Houston, K. (2005). Perceptions of psychosocial support groups by parents who have a child with diabetes: A needs analysis. Collegian, 12(2), 28–32.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S13227696(08)60490-4.Google Scholar
  14. Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.Google Scholar
  15. Dabrowska, A., & Pisula, E. (2010). Parenting stress and coping styles in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism and down syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(3), 266–280.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01258.x.Google Scholar
  16. Davis, N. O., & Carter, A. S. (2008). Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: Associations with child characteristics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(7), 1278–1291.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0512-z.Google Scholar
  17. Derogatis, L. R. (1992). The brief symptom inventory-BSI administration, scoring and precedures manual-II. Clinical Pschometric Research Inc: USA.Google Scholar
  18. Diener, E., & Chan, M. Y. (2011). Happy people live longer: Subjective well-being contributes to health and longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3(1), 1–43.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2010.01045.x.Google Scholar
  19. Diener, E. D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.  https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.Google Scholar
  20. Duckworth, A. L., Steen, T. A., & Seligman, M. E. (2005). Positive psychology in clinical practice. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 629–651.  https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144154.Google Scholar
  21. Dunst, C. J. (2002). Family-centered practices: Birth through high school. The Journal of Special Education, 36, 141–149.  https://doi.org/10.1177/00224669020360030401.Google Scholar
  22. Durak, M., Senol-Durak, E., & Gencoz, T. (2010). Psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale among Turkish university students, correctional officers, and elderly adults. Social Indicators Research, 99(3), 413–429.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9589-4.Google Scholar
  23. Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389.  https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377.Google Scholar
  24. Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N., Truxillo, D. M., & Mansfield, L. R. (2012). Whistle while you work: A review of the life satisfaction literature. Journal of Management, 38(4), 1038–1083.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206311429379.Google Scholar
  25. Estes, A., Olson, E., Sullivan, K., Greenson, J., Winter, J., Dawson, G., & Munson, J. (2013). Parenting-related stress and psychological distress in mothers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Brain and Development, 35(2), 133–138.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.braindev.2012.10.004.Google Scholar
  26. Extremera, N., Duran, A., & Rey, L. (2009). The moderating effect of trait meta-mood and perceived stress on life satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(2), 116–121.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.02.007.Google Scholar
  27. Findler, L., Jacoby, A. K., & Gabis, L. (2016). Subjective happiness among mothers of children with disabilities: The role of stress, attachment, guilt and social support. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 55, 44–54.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.03.006.Google Scholar
  28. Forde, H., Lane, H., McCloskey, D., McManus, V., & Tierney, E. (2004). Link family support–an evaluation of an in-home support service. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11(6), 698–704.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2004.00788.x.Google Scholar
  29. Forjaz, M. J., Rodriguez-Blazquez, C., Ayala, A., Rodriguez-Rodriguez, V., de Pedro-Cuesta, J., Garcia-Gutierrez, S., & Prados-Torres, A. (2015). Chronic conditions, disability, and quality of life in older adults with multimorbidity in Spain. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 26(3), 176–181.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2015.02.016.Google Scholar
  30. Gardiner, E., & Iarocci, G. (2012). Unhappy (and happy) in their own way: A developmental psychopathology perspective on quality of life for families living with developmental disability with and without autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(6), 2177–2192.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2012.06.014.Google Scholar
  31. Gerstein, E. D., Crnic, K. A., Blacher, J., & Baker, B. L. (2009). Resilience and the course of daily parenting stress in families of young children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53, 981–997.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01220.x.Google Scholar
  32. Gouveia, V. V., Milfont, T. L., Da Fonseca, P. N., & de Miranda Coelho, J. A. P. (2009). Life satisfaction in Brazil: Testing the psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) in five Brazilian samples. Social Indicators Research, 90(2), 267–277.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9257-0.Google Scholar
  33. Green, S. E. (2007). “We’re tired, not sad”: Benefits and burdens of mothering a child with a disability. Social Science & Medicine, 64(1), 150–163.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.08.025.Google Scholar
  34. Hart, P. M. (1999). Predicting employee life satisfaction: A coherent model of personality, work, and nonwork experiences, and domain satisfactions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(4), 564–584.  https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.84.4.564.Google Scholar
  35. Hartley, S. L., Papp, L. M., Mihaila, I., Bussanich, P. M., Goetz, G., & Hickey, E. J. (2017). Couple conflict in parents of children with versus without autism: Self-reported and observed findings. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1-14.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0737-1.
  36. Hastings, R. P., Beck, A., & Hill, C. (2005). Positive contributions made by children with an intellectual disability in the family: Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 9(2), 155–165.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629505053930.Google Scholar
  37. Heiman, T. (2002). Parents of children with disabilities: Resilience, coping, and future expectations. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 14(2), 159–171.Google Scholar
  38. Howell, R. T., Kern, M. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). Health benefits: Meta-analytically determining the impact of well-being on objective health outcomes. Health Psychology Review, 1(1), 83–136.  https://doi.org/10.1080/17437190701492486.Google Scholar
  39. James, R. N. (2008). Residential satisfaction of elderly tenants in apartment housing. Social Indicators Research, 89(3), 421–437.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9241-8.Google Scholar
  40. Jones, M. D. (2006). Which is a better predictor of job performance: Job satisfaction or life satisfaction? Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management, 8(1), 20.Google Scholar
  41. Kaur, Y. (2010). Family support model for the Management of Children with special educational needs children. Study Home Community Science, 4(3), 179–184.Google Scholar
  42. Koivumaa-Honkanen, H., Kaprio, J., Honkanen, R., Viinamäki, H., & Koskenvuo, M. (2004). Life satisfaction and depression in a 15-year follow-up of healthy adults. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(12), 994–999.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-004-0833-6.Google Scholar
  43. Köker, S. (1991). Normal ve sorunlu ergenlerde yaşam doyumu düzeyinin karşılaştırılması. Ankara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Ankara: Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi.Google Scholar
  44. Kruger, R. A., & Casey, M. A. (2000). Focus group. In Focus group: A practical guide for applied research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
  45. Küçük, E. E. & Alemdar, D. K. (2017). Life satisfaction and psychological status of mothers with disabled children: A descriptive study. Community Mental Health Journal, 1-5.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0135-6.
  46. Lucas, R. E., Dyrenforth, P. S., & Diener, E. (2008). Four myths about subjective well-being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2(5), 2001–2015.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00140.x.Google Scholar
  47. Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). California: Sage Publication.Google Scholar
  48. Montes, G., & Halterman, J. S. (2007). Psychological functioning and coping among mothers of children with autism: A population-based study. Pediatrics, 119(5), e1040–e1046.  https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-2819.Google Scholar
  49. Most, D. E., Fidler, D. J., Laforce-Booth, C., & Kelly, J. (2006). Stress trajectories in mothers of young children with down syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50(7), 501–514.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00796.x.Google Scholar
  50. Myers, D. G., & Diener, E. (1995). Who is happy? Psychological Science, 6(1), 10–19.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1995.tb00298.x.Google Scholar
  51. Newman, D. B., Tay, L., & Diener, E. (2014). Leisure and subjective well-being: A model of psychological mechanisms as mediating factors. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(3), 555–578.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9435-x.Google Scholar
  52. Oelofsen, N., & Richardson, P. (2006). Sense of coherence and parenting stress in mothers and fathers of preschool children with developmental disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(1), 1–12.  https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250500349367.Google Scholar
  53. Oishi, S., Diener, E., Suh, E., & Lucas, R. E. (1999). Value as a moderator in subjective well-being. Journal of Personality, 67(1), 157–184.  https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.00051.Google Scholar
  54. Özşenol, F., Işıkhan, V., Ünay, B., Aydın, H. İ., Akın, R., & Gökçay, E. (2003). Engelli çocuğa sahip ailelerin aile işlevlerinin değerlendirilmesi. Gülhane Tıp Dergisi, 45(2), 156–164.Google Scholar
  55. Pallant, J. (2001). SPSS survival manual. Maidenhead: Open University Press.Google Scholar
  56. Papaeliou, C., Polemikos, N., Fryssira, E., Kodakos, A., Kaila, M., Yiota, X., Benaveli, E., Michaelides, C., Stroggilos, V., & Vrettopoulou, M. (2012). Behavioural profile and maternal stress in Greek young children with Williams syndrome. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(6), 844–853.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01306.x.Google Scholar
  57. Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the satisfaction with life scale. Psychological Assessment, 5(2), 164–172.  https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.5.2.164.Google Scholar
  58. Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (2008). The satisfaction with life scale and the emerging construct of life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(2), 137–152.  https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760701756946.Google Scholar
  59. Pett, M. A. (2016). Nonparametric statistics for health care research: Statistics for small samples and unusual distributions (2nd ed.). California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
  60. Raina, P., O'Donnell, M., Rosenbaum, P., Brehaut, J., Walter, S. D., Russell, D., Swinton, M., Zhu, B., & Wood, E. (2005). The health and well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics, 115(6), 626–636.  https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-1689.Google Scholar
  61. Şahin, N., & Durak, A. (1994). Kısa Semptom Envanteri: Türk gençleri için uyarlanması. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 9(31), 44–56.Google Scholar
  62. Santamaria, F., Cuzzocrea, F., Gugliandolo, M. C., & Larcan, R. (2012). Marital satisfaction and attribution style in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome and non-disabled children. Life Span and Disability, 15, 19–37.Google Scholar
  63. Scorgie, K., & Sobsey, D. (2000). Transformational outcomes associated with parenting children who have disabilities. Mental Retardation, 38(3), 195–206.  https://doi.org/10.1352/0047-6765(2000)038<0195:TOAWPC>2.0.CO;2.Google Scholar
  64. Shaver, P. R., & Mikulincer, M. (2008). Adult attachment and cognitive and affective reactions to positive and negative events. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2(5), 1844–1865.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2008.00146.x.Google Scholar
  65. Shaw, J. D., & Gupta, N. (2001). Pay fairness and employee outcomes: Exacerbation and attenuation effects of financial need. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 74(3), 299–320.  https://doi.org/10.1348/096317901167370.Google Scholar
  66. Shechtman, Z., & Gilat, I. (2005). The effectiveness of counseling groups in reducing stress of parents of children with learning disabilities. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 9(4), 275.  https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.9.4.275.Google Scholar
  67. Shivers, C. M., Leonczyk, C. L., & Dykens, E. M. (2016). Life satisfaction among mothers of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(6), 2126–2137.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2741-5.Google Scholar
  68. Skok, A., Harvey, D., & Reddihough, D. (2006). Perceived stress, perceived social support, and wellbeing among mothers of school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(1), 53–57.  https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250600561929.Google Scholar
  69. Sloper, P., & Turner, S. (1993). Risk and resistance factors in the adaptation of parents of children with severe physical disability. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34(2), 167–188.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1993.tb00978.x.Google Scholar
  70. Stainton, T., & Besser, H. (1998). The positive impact of children with an intellectual disability on the family. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 23(1), 57–70.  https://doi.org/10.1080/13668259800033581.Google Scholar
  71. Tint, A., & Weiss, J. A. (2015). Family wellbeing of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review. Autism, 20(3), 262–275.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361315580442.Google Scholar
  72. Turnbull, A. P. & Turnbull, H. R. (2001). Families, professionals, and exceptionality: Collaborating for empowerment. Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
  73. Walden, S., Pistrang, N., & Joyce, T. (2000). Parents of adults with intellectual disabilities: Quality of life and experiences of caring. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(2), 62–76.  https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-3148.2000.00002.x.Google Scholar
  74. Weeks, L. E., Bryanton, O., Kozma, A., & Nilsson, T. (2008). Well-being of mid-and later-life mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Women & Aging, 20(1–2), 115–130.  https://doi.org/10.1300/J074v20n01_09.Google Scholar
  75. Woolf, C., Muscara, F., Anderson, V. A., & McCarty, M. C. (2016). Early traumatic stress responses in parents following a serious illness in their child: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Pschology in Medical Setting, 23(1), 53–66.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-015-9430-y.Google Scholar
  76. Wu, C. H. (2009). Enhancing quality of life by shifting importance perception among life domains. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(1), 37–47.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-007-9060-7.Google Scholar
  77. Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2011). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Ankara: Seçkin Yayınları.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Anadolu UniversityAnadolu University Research Institute for Individuals with DisabilitiesEskişehirTurkey

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options