Quality of the social life of the families with mentally handicapped children, and the effect of sport involvement of the handicapped children on the families' life

Polat Y.

ENERGY EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PART B-SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL STUDIES, vol.4, no.2, pp.1005-1014, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Abstract

Quality of the social life of the families

with mentally handicapped children, and

the effect of sport involvement of the

handicapped children on the families' life

Yahya Polat

Erciyes University, Physical Education and Sports Academy, Kayseri, Turkey

Received: 13 April 2011; accepted: 20 May 2011

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the problems experienced by the families with

mentally handicapped children attending special education institutions in Kayseri, and the quality level

of these families' social life. Another aim was to detect the changes that occurred in both handicapped

children's families and in their environment after the participation in Kayseri Football League for

Mentally Handicapped Children organized as a part of sportive project by the Turkish Football

Association for the mentally handicapped children. A 5-point likert scale, consisting of 73 questions in

3 parts, was developed in order to collect data, and was administered to the families the children to

participate in Kayseri Football League for Mentally Handicapped Children before these activities.

Following the 8-month league another scale consisting of 20 questions in one part was administered to

the families, and the statistics were tested. A total of 103 families with handicapped children were

included in the study. Statistical package program was used for the analysis of the data obtained from

the research. Descriptive statistical methods (Frequency, Percentages, Means and Standard Deviation)

were used for the analysis of the data. Two way analysis of the findings was performed with a

confidence interval of 95% and significance level of p < 0.05. In light of research results, it was found

that families with handicapped children experienced such problems as inward and outward

disappointment, hopelessness, continuous anxiety and worry, such as facing problems in their social

environments and professional lives as career loss, problems with workmates and social isolation. On

the other hand, scores of external bad quality of life of the families decreased, and scores of good

quality of life increased thanks to the positive changes that occurred among the children following

their participation in the 8-month football league.

Keywords'.

 

 

Mentally handicapped; Physical education; Sports and socialization

 

The aim of the present study was to investigate the problems experienced by the families with mentally handicapped children attending special education institutions in Kayseri, and the quality level of these families' social life. Another aim was to detect the changes that occurred in both handicapped children's families and in their environment after the participation in Kayseri Football League for Mentally Handicapped Children organized as a part of sportive project by the Turkish Football Association for the mentally handicapped children. A 5-point likert scale, consisting of 73 questions in 3 parts, was developed in order to collect data, and was administered to the families the children to participate in Kayseri Football League for Mentally Handicapped Children before these activities. Following the 8-month league another scale consisting of 20 questions in one part was administered to the families, and the statistics were tested. A total of 103 families with handicapped children were included in the study. Statistical package program was used for the analysis of the data obtained from the research. Descriptive statistical methods (Frequency, Percentages, Means and Standard Deviation) were used for the analysis of the data. Two way analysis of the findings was performed with a confidence interval of 95% and significance level of p < 0.05. In light of research results, it was founded that families with handicapped children experienced such problems as inward and outward disappointment, hopelessness, continuous anxiety and worry, such as facing problems in their social environments and professional lives as career loss, problems with workmates and social isolation. On the other hand, scores of external bad quality of life of the families decreased, and scores of good quality of life increased thanks to the positive changes that occurred among the children following their participation in the 8-month football league.