Research paper: Marital satisfaction and happiness in parents with autistic and normal children

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was conducted to compare the relationship between marital satisfaction and happiness in parents of autistic and normal children. Methods: This causal-comparative research was conducted on all parents of autistic and normal children who referred to the rehabilitation clinics in Tehran in 2017. Using available sampling, 220 parents (110 parents with autistic and 110 parents with normal children) were selected. Data collection was done using the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney and independent t-tests were used for data analysis. Results: The obtained results showed that in all components of marital satisfaction and happiness, except for conflict resolution, parents of normal children had significantly higher scores than the parents of children with autism (P<0.05). Discussion: According to the results, there is a possible relationship between the autism disorders of children and their marital satisfaction and their parents' happiness.