STUDY OF THE ANXIETY LEVEL OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND COMMUNICATIVE ASPECTS OF PSYCHOEDUCATION

Guranda Shamilishvili

E-mail: guranda.shamilishvili@bsu.edu.ge

Assistant Professor, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University

Georgia, Batumi

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3343-4166

Ketevan Doborjginidze

E-mail: ketidobora@gmail.com

Psychologist, Master in Clinical Psychology Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University

Georgia, Batumi

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9353-4283

Abstract. Caring for children with developmental disorders is an important task in the field of psychology in the modern world. A number of studies have been carried out in this direction, various therapeutic interventions have been introduced to help improve the quality of life of children with developmental disorders. In Georgia, children under 7 years of age with developmental disorders have the opportunity to benefit from early intervention services. Such a service involves a process mediated by the parent/legal representative, and accordingly parents are the area of interest of specialists working in this field. Contemporary approaches to intervention for children with mental developmental disorders include parent-mediated interventions, which in turn include the need for parental psychoeducation. Research in modern Psychology shows that psychoeducation significantly reduces stress levels in parents.

Psychoeducation of parents is mainly aimed at reducing the stress index and anxiety level in parents. Stress is the human body’s reaction to the extreme impact of any factors. Stress is an integral part of parenthood and it manifests itself already from pregnancy.

The purpose of the present research was to study the level of anxiety of parents of children with developmental disorders. Objectives of the study: to find out if there is a difference between the level of anxiety of parents of children with typical development and the one of parents of children with developmental disorders; to define what issues concern parents of children with developmental disorders most. The hypothesis of the study have been as follows: parents of children with developmental disorders have higher levels of parental anxiety than parents of children with typical development.

Based on the results of the studies, it can be said that parents who have children with developmental disorders face various difficulties more often than parents of children with typical development, and are at risk of decreased quality of life. Parents of children with developmental disorders express less satisfaction with life, health, family, and friends, in contrast to parents of children with typical development, and more often witness negative events than parents of children with typical development.

               It is relevant to study the level of anxiety of parents of children with developmental disorders, since the level of parental anxiety significantly affects the child’s psyche and his state. It is also worth noting that modern child rehabilitation/habilitation programs rely entirely on working with parents, so studying the level of anxiety of parents will be beneficial for both better adjustment of the service for the parents and the parents’ adaptation to reality.

Keywords: development, disorders, children, intervention, mental, communication, stress, anxiety.    

Jel Classification: H51, A2