Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Related Variables in Families of Children with Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and relationships of variables related to the children with disabilities and their parents as well as the diagnosis process and informing parents after the diagnosis and variables which might be related to the traumatic stress levels of the parents of children with disabilities on parents' traumatic stress levels. This study which was conducted as relational research included a total of 347 parents of children with disabilities. Data collection forms included personal information form, Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The results showed that traumatic stress levels of parents of children with physical impairments were higher than other parents, there was a significant relationship between the time passed after the diagnosis and parents' traumatic stress levels; there was significant relationship between the parents' age and parents's traumatic stress levels; parents' traumatic stress levels didn't differ in terms of gender; traumatic stress levels of single parents were higher than married parents.