Attitude Of Parents Towards Their Special Needs Children: The Roles Of Caregivers' Burden And Feelings Of Gratitude

Abstract

The study examined the role of care-givers' burden and feelings of gratitude in attitude of

parents who have special needs children. One hundred and ninety six (196) participants were

selected using the purposive sampling method among parents whose special needs children are

being cared for by some non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Ibadan, Nigeria.

Participants were administered the Parental Attitude towards Mental Retardation Scale, the

Gratitude Questionnaire, and the Burden Scale for Family Caregiver. Seven hypotheses were

tested by means of independent sample t-test, one-way ANOV A and multiple regression.

Findings suggests that care-givers' burdens and gratitude jointly predict attitudes towards SN

children. However, only feelings of gratitude independently predict attitudes lowards SN

children. This suggests that an increase in gratitude feelings significantly predict increase in

positive attitudes towards SN children. Age, level of disability, birth order and occupation of the

parent did not significantly influence parental attitudes towards SN children. Given that feelings

of gratitude and care-givers' burden jointly predicted parental attitudes towards SN children; it is

recommended that mental health practitioners should aim gratitude intervention and care-giving burden management programs for these parents.