The Relationship between Coping Strategies and Perceived Social Support and Mental Well-being Scales in Parents with Exceptional and Normal Children in Kermanshah, in 2010

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.