Investigation of the relationship between burnout, life satisfaction and quality of life in parents of children with disabilities

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between burnout, life satisfaction and quality of life in parents of disabled children and the mediating role of burnout in the relationship between life satisfaction and quality of life. Relational comparison, which is a quantitative research method, was used. The study sample consisted of 538 parents of students with disabilities of special education schools in the central district of Düzce and parents of children with disabilities receiving services from the Guidance Research Centre. Data were collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Beach Centre Family Quality of Life Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and path analysis model were used for analysis. Burnout was negatively correlated with life satisfaction and quality of life while the quality of life was positively correlated with life satisfaction. Quality of life predicted burnout negatively while burnout predicted life satisfaction negatively. However, the quality of life did not predict life satisfaction. According to path analysis, burnout was a mediating variable. Results suggest that parents of children with disabilities should be supported socially and financially and that existing social support should be diversified based on the child’s disability.