Porównanie wsparcia społecznego i jakości życia matek i ojców dzieci z niepełnosprawnością fizyczną
A comparison of social support and the quality of life of mothers and fathers of children with physical disabilities

Summary/Abstract: Introduction: Being a parent of a disabled child is a factor that can clearly lower the quality of life. This is dependent on the level of the child’s disability and the level of support received. The aim of this study was to compare the level of social support and the quality of life of mothers and fathers. Material and methods: Sixty-four parents participated in the study and the average age of the mothers was 37 years, and of the fathers was 41 years. The study used the diagnostic survey method, while the evaluation tool was the Polish version of the Berlin Scale of Social Support (BSSS) and the Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL – BREF). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between mothers and fathers in the subscales of social support (p > 0.05). Compared to mothers, fathers have a higher quality of life in the psychological field (M = 3.12, SD = 0.79 vs. M = 3.53, SD = 0.56, p = 0.021). In turn, in fathers, the quality of life in the psychological and social field correlates with the perceived available support, support currently received, and the quality of life in the environmental category is related to the support currently received. However, in the group of fathers, the quality of life in the somatic field is not significantly related to any scale of social support. In mothers, the somatic, psychological, social and environmental quality of life depends on the perceived support available and currently received (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Social support for both the mothers and fathers of children with physical disabilities was at a similar level. The quality of life of parents raising a disabled child is improving in all areas due to the social support received. The exception is the somatic quality of life in fathers, which does not depend on support. The fathers in the study group have a higher quality of life in the psychological field.

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