Values, life orientations and life satisfaction of parents raising children with disabilities

The number of children with disabilities is growing every year. The appearance of a child with disabilities in the family leaves an imprint on the state of the parents, instills in them anxiety and fear for the future of the child. In such families, disintegrating social processes are observed that do not contribute to the successful socialization of children with disabilities. At the same time, the family can be considered as a resource in the development of a child with disabilities. Considering that many parents raising children with disabilities have typical features, a study was conducted on the psychological characteristics of parents: values, life orientations and life satisfaction. The following methods were used: The Life Satisfaction Scale (E. Diener; adapted by D.A. Leontiev, E.N. Osina); “Portrait Values Questionnaire-Revised” (Portrait Values Questionnaire -Revised – PVQ-R; Sh. Schwartz et al.; modification by K.V. Sugonyaev), where we examined the meta-values of “Openness to change” and “Saving”; Test of life orientations by D. A. Leontiev. The results of the study indicate that the values, life orientations and life satisfaction of parents raising children with disabilities differ significantly from similar psychological characteristics of parents raising healthy children. Parents raising children with disabilities need psychological and pedagogical support, they need comprehensive, targeted psychological assistance. The results obtained are of practical importance and can be used by specialists in designing programs of psychological and pedagogical support for parents raising children with disabilities.

children with disabilities, parents, resource, values, life orientations, life satisfaction