Parental acceptance-rejection, self-esteem and psychological adjustment: Children with learning disabilities as compared to children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus


Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Psikoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2006

Öğrenci: İLDEN KOÇKAR ZEKAVET AYLİN

Danışman: TÜLİN GENÇÖZ

Özet:

This study aimed to investigate the psychological adjustment of children with learning disabilities (LD); to examine the group and gender differences of the psychological adjustment between children with LD and diabetes; and to investigate group differences in the way mothers experience having children with LD and diabetes in terms of their adjustment levels. In order to test the above aims, 2 (Gender) x 2 (Diagnosis) ANCOVA’s were conducted to evaluate the diagnosis and gender differences on the psychological adjustment levels of children, separately. Significant diagnosis main effects were found for all of the study variables, indicating that children with a learning disability had worse psychological adjustment compared to children with diabetes. Regression analyses were conducted in order to find out the variables associated with the symptoms of depression and anxiety for children with learning disabilities and diabetes groups, separately. Separate regression analyses were run to examine the mediator role of self-esteem between parental rejection and learned helplessness and depression in children with LD. In order to evaluate the diagnosis differences (LD, diabetes) on the psychological adjustment levels of mothers ANCOVA’s were conducted. Significant diagnosis main effects were found for all of the study variables regarding mothers, indicating that mothers of children with a learning disability had worse psychological adjustment compared to mothers of children with diabetes. The results were discussed in terms of the treatment needs of children with LD, helping parents and children cope with LD, and the importance of early identification of these children for the prevention of psychosocial problems.