Comparing the Psychological Well Being Factors among the Parents of the Mentally Retarded Children with those of the Normal Children

The aim of the present research was to compare the psychological well being factors among the parents of the mentally retarded children with those of the normal children. the descriptive research is comparative - causative. The statistical population of the present research includes all the parents of the mentally retarded and normal children whose children were studying in the mentally retarded and normal schools in Mahabad in the educational year of 2012-2013. For this, 80 parents of the mentally retarded children were chosen through the random sampling and 80 parents of the normal children were selected through the multistage random sampling. To collect data m, the Ryff psychological well being questionnaire was used. To analyze data, the multivariate variance analysis statistics was applied. The results of the multivariate variance analysis statistics shows that there is a significant relations with regards to the positive relationship with the others, mastering the environment at the alpha level of 0/01 (P < 0/01), and with regards to the self acceptance factors, independence, having purpose in life and personal development at the alpha level of 0/05 (P < 0/05). There is a significant difference between the parents of the normal children and those of the mentally retarded children with regards to the psychological well being factors (positive relationship with the others, mastering the environment, self acceptance factors, independence, having purpose in life, and personal development).