PANDEMİ DÖNEMİNDE 6-18 YAŞ GRUBUNDAKİ ÖZEL GEREKSİNİMLİ ÇOCUKLARIN ANNELERİNİN TÜKENMİŞLİK DÜZEYLERİ VE AİLE İŞLEVSELLİĞİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the burnout levels of mothers of children with special needs aged 6-18 years and family functionality during the pandemic period. The participants of the study are located in Mardin city center and its districts; It consists of the mothers of 201 children with special needs, 42 of whom were diagnosed with autism, 35 down syndrome, 51 intellectual disability, 24 physical disability, 20 cerebral palsy and 29 other special needs types. To the participants; Due to the pandemic conditions, Volunteer Participation Form, Personal Information Form, Maslach Burnout Scale and Family Evaluation Scale were applied via the online form. The change between children's age, gender, special needs area, mother's age, employment status, education level, number of children and economic level, and mothers' burnout and family functionality were examined. In addition, burnout and family functionality were examined according to the social support received by the mothers from the environment. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov Test was used to test the homogeneity of the distribution. In the analysis of the obtained data; Independent Samples t-Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Bonferroni Post-Hoc Test were used. Pearson Correlation analysis was applied to determine the direction and size of the relationship between the scores obtained from the two scales. As a result of the research, a relationship was found between burnout and family functionality. It has been concluded that the family functionality of mothers with burnout is negatively affected. Significant differences were found between the age, gender, special needs area of the child with special needs, and the burnout levels of mothers and family functionality. A relationship was found between the mother's age, employment and education status, number of children and economic level, and burnout and family functionality. The fact that mothers with special needs children received social support from the environment revealed that they experienced less burnout. It has been determined that mothers who receive social support have healthier family functions.