Comparison of Cognitive, Psychological and Social Characteristics, between Parents Who Have More Than One Exceptional Child with Parents of Normal Child

The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive, psychological and social characteristics between parents who have more than one exceptional child and those parents with normal child. In this cross sectional and comparative study, 80 families who had more than one exceptional child were conveniently selected and 53 families with normal child were selected using multi-stage sampling in schools of Uromia city, western Iran. The Cognitive, Psychological and Social Characteristics of Parents with more than One Special Child Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues Communication and Happiness (ENRICH) were used. Compromise Xi Chi, Yu-Man Whitney and t tests were used for data analysis. Among cognitive, psychological and social variables, job (Father and Mother) (P<0.001); education (Father & Mother); time of disability awareness (P<0.001); parent's level of interest to marriage (P<0.001); parent's relationship before birth (P<0.001); parent's relationship during pregnancy (P<0.001); Mother's mental health (physical symptoms P=0.037, depression P=0.041, social dysfunction P=0.04, anxiety and insomnia P=0.001) and marital satisfaction (P=0.030) were statistically significant between the two groups. Other variables were not statistically significant between the two groups. It seems that planning to control and prevent variables such as time of disability awareness, parent's level of interest to marriage, parents’ relationship before birth and during pregnancy, mothers’ mental health and marital satisfaction would help to reduce disability occurrences and to improve situations for these kinds of families.