Social support, resilience and life satisfaction in families with special needs children

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the intricate relationships among resilience, life satisfaction, and perceived social support in Turkish families raising children with special needs, emphasizing the importance of understanding these variables for enhancing family well-being.

Design and methods

The study involved a sample of 317 parents of children with special needs. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted due to the normal distribution of scale scores. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the mediating effects of social support on the relationship between resilience and life satisfaction, with analyses performed using Jamovi 2.3.28.

Results

The findings revealed a positive correlation between life satisfaction and resilience among these families and a strong association between perceived social support and life satisfaction.

Conclusions

These results provide valuable insights into the development of support programs aimed at improving family resilience and life satisfaction.

Practical implications

The involvement of pediatric nursing is crucial in implementing and designing these support programs to effectively address the unique challenges faced by families raising children with special needs.