Comparison of anger level, parental tension and coping strategies with the stress of the mothers of mentally retarded children with normal children's mothers

The birth of a child with mental disorder in the family results in problems for family members and causes mental stress in a variety of ways among them, especially the parents, therefore, the aim of present research is to compare anger level, parental tension and coping strategies with the stress of mothers who have mentally retarded children with normal children's mothers. The statistical population included the mothers of children with mental developmental disorders and normal children's mothers in Gorgan city during the July to September 2017. The method in this comparative causal study was based on the fact that the minimum number for this research method for each group was 15 persons, more than 50 mothers of children with mental retardation and 50 mothers of normal children were selected by a purposeful method from Gorgan's rehabilitation centers. Parents Stress Questionnaire (PSI-SF) and Coping Strategies against stress Questionnaire (ADR) of Indeler and Parker (CISS) and Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ) were used. The results showed that there was a significant difference between general anger (p =0.018, F=5.702), aggression (p=0.003, F=8.976), general parental stress (p=0.013, F=4.521), and Problem-oriented strategy (p=0.003, F=6.130) in two groups of mothers of mentally retarded children and normal children's mothers according to multivariate analysis of variance. The findings of this study showed that regarding the systemic view, psychological stress in the family environment could be transmitted to the other family members and abnormal behaviors such as anger and non-compatible strategies may be seen. The mothers of mentally retarded children are emotionally in high-stress conditions compared to normal children's mothers, so we could see the non-conforming behaviors reactions by them.