Examining the Effect of Teaching Religious Coping Style on Happiness of Parents

Studies have shown that parents of exceptional children have less happiness and life satisfaction. Coping styles are one of the most important psychosocial factors that go between stress and mental disorders. On the other hand, there is a meaningful relation between happiness and religious beliefs. Therefore, this study was carried out with the purpose of examining the effect of teaching Islamic coping styles on happiness of parents with exceptional children in the city of Khatam (Harat&Marvast). This is an exprimental research. The sample size was 24 persons chosen from among parents of exceptional children in Khatam city. They were then randomly assigned into two groups of trial and control. Islamic coping style was taught to the trial group. After one month of teaching, the data gathered from the research were analyzed through descriptive and analytic statistics. Teaching Islamic coping styles, increased happiness of the parents with exceptinal children in such a way that the score of their happiness elevated from 26.41 before the study to 56.04 after study and then to 55 after one month of follow-up. Considering the effectivness of Islamic coping styles on increasing happiness, teaching of these styles for decreasing and coping with stress is recommended.