Studying the Relationship between God’s Perception and Ethical Foundations among Parents of Children with Special Needs

An individual's perception of God can reflect his cognitive transformation and moral growth. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the God’s perception and moral foundations of the parents of children with special needs. This descriptive-correlational study was carried out on parents of mental retard students studying in special girls schools at the district 4 of Tehran city in the academic year of 2016-2017. The sample size was estimated 120 couples based on Cochran's formula (120 fathers and 120 mothers). Simple random sampling method was used. The data were collected using Lawrence’s God perception and the Haidt & Graham’s moral foundations questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20. 62 (51.7%) students were studying in elementary school, 35 (29.2%) were in middle school and 23 (19.2%) were in high school. No significant correlation was found between the God’s perceptions and components of the parents' ethical foundations (P<0/05). The findings indicate on the lack of statistical correlation between the components of God's perception with the components of moral foundations among the studied parents. Therefore, it is recommended that organizations involved in providing the necessary infrastructures and facilities and other material, spiritual and social supports provide equal opportunities for the children of these families.