CAUSES OF STRESS FOR PARENTS HAVING CHILDREN WITH MENTAL RETARDATION IN PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT CHILDREN HOSPITAL 2 - HO CHI MINH CITY IN 2020

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the causes of stress for parents of children with mental retardation at the Department of Psychology - Children Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh city. The study used cross-sectional method. The results showed that the main causes of stress for parents of children with mental retardation were children’s distraction and forgetfulness (92.2%); bad relationship between parent (65.6%), between father/ mother and children (73.4%); spending a long time teaching children to learn (81.3%); husband and wife’s disagreement in the education of their children (67.2%); noisy living environment (57.8%). To prevent stress, parents of children with mental retardation often used 2 ways to confide in others and self-regulate to always think positively and optimistic. The way to cope with the stress used by a parent of a child with mental retardation was to seek the help of supernatural beings. Finding out the causes of stress in these parents is of great significance in helping doctors to examine and provide advice on solutions to limit, prevent and reduce stress; helps conscious parents manage these problems so that they can have more time to focus on their child's mental health care.