Comparison of Parents’ Marital Satisfaction Based on the Characteristics and Type of Children’s Disability

The purpose of this study is comparison of parents’ marital satisfaction based on the characteristics and type of children’s disability. According to the subject and purpose of the current research, the present study is the type of ex-post factor. The study’s participants were 125 couples who were selected and investigated by a random multi-stage cluster sampling. The study instruments include: Afrooz marital satisfaction Scale (Short form) and demographic questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in two sections of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (ANOVA and independent t-test). Results showed that there is significant difference between parent’s marital satisfaction of students with hearing impairment, visuall impairment, mentall retardation and normal students (P<0.01). Group of parents who have students with hearing impairment had less marital satisfaction than other groups. This study also showed that there is a significant difference between groups of fathers and mothers in terms of marital satisfaction (P<0.001). According to the results of the current study it seems that marital satisfaction of parents with disabled children can be affected by type of children’s disability; and parents of children with hearing impairment have less marital satisfaction because they experience different needs and conditions from other parents. Thus we suggest to carry out effective and early intervention programs for parents of disabled children, especially parents of children with hearing impairment.