PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT, STRESS, COPING ATTITUDES OF PARENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

This study aimed to investigate the capacity of the perceived social support of parents of special needs children to predict their family stress and stress coping attitudes. The sample consisted of 120 parents of special needs children aged between 3 and 6 years who were attending special education and rehabilitation centres. Parents' perceived social support, stress levels, and coping attitudes were determined using a “Personal Information Form”, the “Revised Parental Social Support Scale”, the “Questionnaire on Resources and Stress”, and the “Inventory of Coping With Stress Attitudes”. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to analyse the variables. The study found that the family stress of parents of special needs children was predicted by their level of perceived social support and their level of satisfaction with the perceived social support; however, the level of perceived social support and the level of satisfaction with the perceived social support had no predictive effect on coping attitudes. The findings of the study were discussed in line with the relevant literature and suggestions were offered for further research and practices.