Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal

  Background and Objectives: Having a mentally retarded child has adverse effect on the structure and function of family and has physical, social and economic tension to family. The aim of this study was to investigate emotional conditions of families of mentally retarded children under protection of welfare centers.

  Material and Methods: In this survey, 140 parents of children who were suffered from mental retardation were recruited to the study. Data were gathered using a research-structured instrument via interviews with the participants. Data were analysis in the SPSS-14 using Chi-square test and the Fisher’s exact test.

  Results: The result of our study showed that 57.9% of the parents had emotional problems. The emotional problems were more serious in parents of children who were female, had mild mental retardation, were completely dependent to their family, and had behavioral problems. Moreover, in the families whose mothers were housewives, father had physical illness, the number of family members were more than four, and the monthly income of the family was less than 2000000 Rilas, the condition was more serious (p<0/05) Conclusion: It is recommended to pay more attention to families of mentally retarded children via providing coping techniques and counseling services as well as supporting financially.