Vol-7, Special Issue-Number4-June, 2016, pp822-829 http://www.bipublication.com
Research Article
Relationship of life Skill and Happiness in Mothers with
Autistic Children in Isfahan City
Shohreh Alsadat Filsoof1 and Mino Motaghi2
1
Student of M.S. in psychiatric nursing course of teaching psychiatric nursing in
Islamic Azad University, Isfahan branch (Khorasgan) 2
Instructor of nursing group, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan branch (Khorasgan)
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Stable stress due to having autistic child has multi-dimensional and comprehensive effects on parents especially mothers which lead to getting away from positive psychological components. Thus, the present study seeks to determine the relationship between happiness and life skills of mothers who have autistic children in Hazrat-e-Zahra charity association in 2015.
Materials and methods: The research was a descriptive-correlational one based on data gathered from 54 mothers who have autistic children by census sampling in 2015. Required information was gathered by demographic questionnaire, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and a short form of life skills. For data analysis SPSS package version 20 was used.
Findings: Findings showed that mothers with autistic children have lower happiness and higher life skills in comparison to the average of society. Pearson Correlational test also showed that there is a significant relationship between components of life skills (decision-making, problem-solving, creative thought) and happiness of mothers with autistic children. Finally, Spearman correlational test showed that there is a significant relationship between sport and religious activities and record of visiting doctor due to spiritual and psychological problems, and happiness, and level of education and life skill.
Discussion: Thus, considering the basic role of life skills and happiness in the process of purification process especially families with an autistic child, it is necessary that these people receive instruction of life skills to increase their problem-solving capacity and as a result their happiness. The process can be carried out by persons related to the children and their families such as mental nurses.
Keywords: Happiness, life skills, autism
INTRODUCTION:
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum from complex transformational disorders which is characterized by delay or problems in cognitive, social, emotional, linguistic, sensory and dynamic abilities. The deficiencies are appeared in initial years of growth and influence on life during lifetime (Ali et al, 2015). Autism is a kind of growth comprehensive disorder which is characterized by unnatural communicative and linguistic behaviors and symptoms of the disorder appears in first three years of life (Ganji, 2016). Autism is a permanent growth disability which impacts on the way a person
5 times more prevalent in boys, but in girls probability of intense intellectual disability is higher (Scherf et al, 2015). Permanent stress due to having autistic child on parents may change perception of observers from parenting and decrease their optimism from the future of themselves and the kids. Cognitive disorders of child, behavioral problems, irritable mood, hyperactivity disorder, pertinacity, nutritional problems, inability in self care, low adaptive functioning, linguistic deficiencies, inability in learning, impositions of restrictions on family life, separation from friends and family and also needing care in whole lifetime lead to increasing stress of autistic children(Ali et al, 2015). Recent researches regarding parents of autistic children show that these parents experience more stress in comparison to parents of normal children or other children who have special needs or chronic deceases. And get away from positive psychological components (Estes et al, 2009; Davis& Carter, 2008). These conditions lead to drop of their self care. Hurted psychological condition of parents suffering from autism disorder originate from different sources which may be related to the child, parents or society or behavioral and communicative problems, worry of mothers about permanence and stability of conditions of the child, low acceptance from society and even other members of family in relation to behaviors of child, low social support, economical problems, isolation and low knowledge of parents about transformation and progress of the child(Benderix et al, 2006: keen et al, 2009), which leads to gradual decrease of psychological power of mothers and make serous hurt to objective and psychological dimensions of mothers(Brobst, Clopton&Hendrick, 2009). Different evidence shows that behavioraland growth problems of children suffering from Autism has significant impact on reduction of self-care and finally on happiness of parents(Goldstand, Gevir, 2006). Considering increasing changes and complexes of society and problems due to family and children , preparation of parents especially mothers for confronting different situations(e.g. having Autistic child) is vital and learning some
skills seem necessary(Sarabi et al, 2012). Simon points out thatthose mothers with mentally sick children need to acquire high life skills in order to not have conflict with other members (Naeimi, Siamian, 2012). Life skill means making appropriate and effective interpersonal relations, carrying out social responsibilities, correct decision-making, solving conflicts and struggles without hurting self or others. In general, life skills are those skills that are instructed for increasing psychological and social abilities and empower people to effectively confront requirements of life (Esmaelzade, Moalebifard, 2013).
Results of Yektakhah(2013) showed that mothers gained the less mean in sub-scale of depression and don’t have an appropriate social condition. Results of research of Ahmadi, Pashang and Saliminia(2013) showed that learning skill of problem-solving is effective in improvement of life quality of mothers with Autistic children in all dimensions. Results of study of Vasilopoulou&Nisbet(2016) showed that parents with Autistic children have lower life quality in comparison to parents with normal children which is because ofbehavioral problems of children and lack of social support. Thus, considering results of previous studies it is clear that parent of Autistic children have lower psychological welfare and of course mothers experience more hurt in comparison to fathers (Sabet, Kashani, 2010). Studies show that in families of difficult-to-treat patients two factors of life skills and happiness still have important and basic relationship, but some studies show that in other families the two factors have no relationship. Of course in familywith autistic child there is no study carried out. Now considering importance of happiness and life skills in improvement of life quality of different persons and also lack of a research about relationship of the two components in mothers who have autistic child, the present research seeks to verify relationship between happiness and life skills in mothers who have Autistic child in Isfahan in 2015.
referring toHazrat-e-Zahra charity association OF Isfahan in 2015 which based on the criterion of arrivals and departures bycensussampling. Researcher refered to Hazrat-e-Zahra charity association and gave an introduction letter among 65 families which made an account in the center, 3 mothers were divorcedand 2 released their child and in the research we had access to just 60 mothers which among them 6 mothers didn’t accept to participate in the study in finally 54 persons entered the study. In the end, mothers were asked to answer researcher-made questionnaire of happiness and life skills. It deserves to mention that criterion of arrival to study was having account in autism center, tendency of mother for participating in the study, lack of mental and spiritual disease before birth of autistic child and living of mother with her child. Criterion of exit from research was resignation of mothers during study and incomplete filling of the questionnaires.
In the research following instruments were used: Self-made demographic questionnaire: the questionnaire was consisted of 10 researcher-made questions regarding family characteristics which for determination of content validity ideas of members of academic staff of nursing and midwifery faculty of Khorasgan University were regarded and was confirmed after some modifications. The questionnaire examines some components like age range, number of children, level of education, employment status, level of sport activity, religious activity, physical health, psychological health, emotional support from husband, and economical status.
Oxford Happiness Questionnaire: The questionnaire was prepared in 1989 by Argyle&Lou. Theoretical base of the scale was definition of Argyle and Crosland from happiness. Final form of questionnaire was consisted of 29 four-choice questions which in every question person judges about emotions of unhappiness to much happiness. The questionnaire was revised by Argyle &Hilz (2001) and psychological problems related to social interests , extroversion, kindness, agreement, sense of humor, sense of purpose, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, self-acceptance, physical health, self-control, place-control,
aesthetic feeling were assessed.(Sabet, Kashani, 2010). The questionnaire is scored in Likert scale in a direct way in such a way that completely disagree (1) to completely agree (4) choices were used, so range of scores is between 29 and 116.
Considering construct validity, since happiness has three sections of positive affection, satisfaction and lack of negative affection,correlation of happiness questionnaire with Bradbrn scale of positive affection was .32 and with Argyle satisfaction of life 0.57, Beck questionnaire of depression was calculated -0.52 (Sabet, Kashani, 2010). In the study of Sabet and LotfiKaashani(2010), for calculation of construct validity, correlation of 30 persons' scores in the test and Beck depression test was calculated. Calculated correlation (-0.90) shows that happiness questionnaire assess variable of depression too, so we can tell that the questionnaire really assess happiness. Reliability of the scale in research of Argyle on 347 testeesbyCronbach
ʹ
s alpha was 0.90 and by method of re-test is 0.78and in research of Abediet. Al. (2005) by method of Cronbachʹ
s alpha was 0.85 and by halving by Spearman was 0.79 and byGutman method was 0.78 and .73 in re-test. It seems necessary to mention that in the research total grade of questionnaire of happiness was used. Reliability of the above questionnaire in the present research was calculated 0.92 by Cronbachʹ
s alpha.
Short form of questionnaire of life skills: The questionnaire was consisted of 20 questions and three sub-scales (decision-making, problem-solving, and creative thinking) which are scored in a five degree Likert scale from completely disagree to completely agree. If the scores of questionnaire is between 20 and 40, shows weakness in life skills, if between 40 and 60 shows being moderate in life skills , and if is higherthan 60 shows strength in life skills. Validity of the questionnaire was verified in different studies including Saatchi etal. (2010). Reliability of the questionnaire was calculated 93% by Cronbach
ʹ
s alpha.(Pearson correlation coefficient) for the test of examination of relationship between happiness and life skills in mothers who have autistic child were used. For data analysis SPSS18 package was used. In addition to moral considerations, participants were invited to a session and the process of participation in the research was described for them. Then the persons voluntarily participated in the study. In addition, in the session it was determined that after end of research a course is carried out for instructing approaches of increasing happiness and acquiring life skills.
Findings: Demographic findings showed that the most age range of mothers with Autistic
children was 30 to 35 years old (33.3percent), the most number of children was related to families with two children (53.7%). Highest level of education was related to bachelor and diploma (42.6%). Mothers of Autistic children are mostly house-keeper (57.4%), most don’t have enough sport activities (59.3), half of them (50) have enough religious activity, and most (87%) have physical health. Most of mothers in sample group (72.3%) have records of referring to psychologist for psychological problems. 36 persons (66.7%) believed that receive enough emotional support from husbands.Sample persons with a moderate economic condition comprise most of the persons (75.9%).
Table1: Description of life skills (decision-making, problem-solving) and happiness among persons of test sample
Component minimum maximum Mean of sample
Standard deviation
Mean of questionnaire
Difference of
means t P(value)
Decision-making 12 36 22.83 5.77 20 2.83 3.60 0.001
Problem-solving 6 24 17.22 5.40 15 2.22 3.02 0.004
creative thought 8 26 15.22 5.22 15 0.75 0.31 0.75
Total score of
life skills 32 82 55.27 11.93 50 5.27 3.24 0.002
happiness 37 70 52.88 9.66 58 5.12 -3.88 0.0001
As results of single-sample t-testin table 1 shows mean of scores of happiness of mothers with Autistic child has significant difference with score of questionnaire (58=mean score of questionnaire). In other words level of happiness in mothers of Autistic children is lower than mean. On the other hand, mean of scores of life skills of mothers with Autistic children (score=50) is significantly different. The results also showed that mean of scores of components of decision-making and problem-solving in mothers who had Autistic children is significantly different.
For evaluation of relationship between happiness and components of life skills (decision-making, problem-solving and creative thinking) Pearson correlation coefficient matrix was prepared which the results are presented in table2.
Table2 Pearson correlation coefficient between components of life skills and happiness
variables
Decision-making Problem-solving Creative thinking Life skills
Correlation (r)
Significanc e level
(p)
Correlation Significance level
(p)
Correlation Significance level
(p)
Correlati
on Significance level (p)
0.27 0.03 0.65 0.0001 0.50 0.0001 0.64 0.0001
As results of Pearson correlation coefficient in table2 indicates there is a positive significant relationship between happiness and component of decision-making in mothers with Autistic child in level of 0.05. Amount of correlation between the two variables was 0.27. The results also showed that there is a positive significant relationship between happiness and component of problem-solving in mothers with Autistic child in level 0.01.Amount of correlation between the two variables were 0.65 and on the other hand results also indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between happiness and component of creative thinking in mothers with autistic child in level of 0.01. Amount of correlation between the two variables is 0.50. In the end results showed that there is also a significant relationshipbetween happiness and total score of life skills in level of 0.01 and correlation of 0.64. Pearson correlation test in table 3 showed that there is not a significant relationship between age and number of children, and level of happiness and mothers
ʹ
life skills.variables happiness Life skills
Correlation (r)
Significance level (p)
Correlation (r)
Significance level (p)
Age 0.07 0.65 -0.03 0.77
Number of children 0.10 0.44 0.04 0.68
Considering table 4, Spearman correlation test showed that there is a significant relationship between sport-religious activities and record of referring to doctor due to spiritual-psychological problems and happiness, and life skills.
Table4: Spearman correlation coefficients among variables of happiness and life skills, and demographic components
variables happiness Life skills
Correlation (r)
Significance level (p)
Correlation (r)
Significance level (p)
Level of education 0.17 0.09 0.31 0.001
Employment status 0.08 0.21 0.11 0.10
Sport activities 0.29 0.002 0.06 0.69
Religious activities 0.31 0.0001 0.16 0.11
Physical health conditions 0.06 0.59 0.06 0.54
Psychological health conditions 0.29 0.003 0.02 0.81
Emotional support -0.03 0.74 0.08 0.49
Economic status 0.10 0.47 0.10 0.43
DISCUSSION:
The present research was carried out by the aim of determining the relationship between happiness and life skills in mothers with Autistic children referring to Autism center of Isfahan (charity association of Isfahan) in 2015. Pearson correlation results showed that there is a significant relationship between happiness and life skills and its components in mothers with Autistic children (p<0.01).
RahimianBoogar, Mohammadi far, Najafi and Dehshiri (2015) in a study titled (effect of life skills on general health of students showed that instruction of life skills significantly improved general health of students and led to significant decrease of physical symptoms, stress and insomnia, social performance disorder and depression of the test group in comparison to the control group. Alipoor, Hashemi, BabapourKheireddin and Tousi (2011) examined therelationship between coping approaches and happiness of students. Results of their study indicated that there is a significant positive correlation (p<0.01) between happiness and problem-based coping approaches and a significant and negative correlation (p<0.01)
between happiness and emotion-based coping approaches.
and productive activities. Some studies have also reported that persons with higher happiness have got more psychological energy and are more probable to carry out dedications. Happiness as a positive emotion that can facilitate inter-personal relationships and improve self-sacrifice, altruism, and dialogue skills and has widespread positiveconsequences on cognition, level of social activities, and health. Happiness also leads to a thought that empowers people solve the problems with creativity and innovation (Easterlin, 2006). Day, Maltby, Lewis (2005) believe that positive emotions such as happiness, prepare organism for future challenges, In his opinion, those persons who experience positive emotions use the time in their own favor. Thus, are free from unexpected and unpredicted danger and unclear harms and can follow purposes which are not met yet.
According to Seligman happiness encompassesshort-term conditions and long-term veins. This psychological component affects from many factors. Some of these factors include different dimensions of personality (introversion, extroversion, neurosis)(McCrae, Costa, 1991; Ali pour, 2005), economical condition, family life, physical health, employment, confrontation strategies, and amount of self-efficiency, meaning of life, religion, and religious orientation (Azmoodeh et al, 2007).
Considering characteristics of happiness it is observed that some theoretical basis and common points among the structure and life skills are observable in such a way that life skills can also carry out adaptive and positive behavior in such a way that person is able to confront challenges and essential affairs of life and consists of ten main skills including self-awareness, communication, interpersonal skills, decision making, problem solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, coping with emotions, coping with stress(Khushabi, 2008). Based on results of the present research, there is a positive significant relationship between happiness and life skills.
On the other hand, life skills with some of its components such as empathy, self-confidence,
skills of problem solving, decision making, inhibition of stress and tension, critical and creative thinking, and ability of making and preserving desirable relationships, leads to more internal satisfaction and enable to gain more psychological, social and physical health. Based on this fact, when a person acquire higher skills in life and apply them in life, will experience more happiness.
CONCLUSION:
Mothers with Autistic children experience lower happiness In comparison to the average of society. Results also showed that mothers withAutistic child have higher life skills in comparison to the average of society. There is a positive significant relationship between all components of life skills and happiness. There is a positive significant relationship between sport-religious activities of mothers and records of referring to the doctor due to spiritual and psychological problems.
The present research was faced with some limitations such as spiritual and psychological conditions of mothers which in spite of trial of researchers was not controllable. The present research is carried out only on mothers of autistic children, so for generalization of the results enough precautions should be considered. The other limitation was generalization of the instrument to the other questionnaire.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
The research is result of M.S. thesis approved by research assistance of Isfahan (Khorasgan) Islamic Azad Universityand we are thankful fromrespected responsible persons and staff of Hazrat-e-Zahra charity association and all of mothers who participated in the research.
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