An Analysis on the Life Satisfaction and Resilience Levels of Parents of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities

Introduction: In this study, life satisfaction and family resilience levels of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) were examined. Method: Relational screening model was used in the study. The participants of the study consisted of 309 parents from Izmir and Bursa. The data were obtained using the Family Resilience Assessment Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. t-test, ANOVA, Tukey HSD Test and Pearson correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data. Findings: The findings on the variables regarding parents' life ability showed that mothers, young parents, those with high income levels, those with high educational levels, and parents who had children with ID had higher life satisfaction levels than the groups they were compared with. Significant differences were observed in family resilience levels with respect to the overall scale scores regarding gender, bellicosity, mothers in the commitment to life and self-control subdimensions, young parents in the self-efficacy subdimension, high income parents in the self-efficacy subdimension, high level of education in the bellicosity subdimension, overall scale score in the disability type of their children, children with ID in the bellicosity, self-efficacy and commitment to life subdimensions. There was a positive relationship between life satisfaction and family resilience, and all subdimensions. Discussion: The findings of this study were discussed in line with the literature. According to the results of the research, it was observed that individuals with high life satisfaction also have high family resilience levels. Individuals with a high level of satisfaction with life look at life more positively, experience less stress and overcome the problems they encounter more easily.