Are Coping Strategies with Well-Being in Deaf and Blind Parents Related?

• Published in: European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education psychology and education, 2021-11, Vol.11 (4), p.1422-1439
• Main Authors: Indiana, Maria Luisa, Sagone, Elisabetta, Fichera, Salvatore Luciano Orazio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic children; being; Beliefs; Blindness; Childhood Needs; Children with disabilities; Communication Skills; Coping; cross; Cross-sectional studies; cross-sectional study; Deaf Blind; Deafness; Developmental disabilities; Disability; Down Syndrome; Educational Technology; Families & family life; Family Involvement; Fathers; Job Satisfaction; Life Satisfaction; Mothers; Networks; parents; Parents & parenting; Parents with Disabilities; Problem solving; Quality of life; Resilience (Psychology); sectional study; Self Efficacy; Self esteem; Social Environment; Social support; Social Support Groups; Stress; Visual impairment; well; well-being
• ISSN: 2254-9625; 2174-8144; 2254-9625
• DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe11040102

The main purpose of this cross-sectional study, carried out with deaf parents and blind parents, is to analyze the association of coping strategies, life satisfaction, well-being, and generalized self-efficacy, compared to a group of parents without a sensory loss. The Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, Satisfaction with Life, Generalized Self-efficacy, and Psychological Well-Being scales were applied. Results indicate that: (1) deaf parents and blind parents search for social support, use avoidance, and turn to religion more than those without a sensory loss; (2) deaf parents are more satisfied with life than blind parents and those without a sensory loss; (3) deaf parents and blind parents perceive themselves as less efficacious than those without a sensory loss; (4) deaf parents and blind parents report lower psychological well-being (autonomy and personal growth) than those without a sensory loss, except for self-acceptance. Searching for social support and turning to religion are negatively associated with life satisfaction in deaf parents and those without a sensory loss; further, these coping strategies (together with avoidance) affect the psychological well-being of deaf parents and parents without a sensory loss. Future research could investigate deeper into the effects of these dimensions on well-being and the styles of parenting in these families.