Parent-to-Parent support perception and Parent-Child relationship in parents of children with special Needs: The mediating role of quality of life

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the relationships between parent-to-parent support perception, quality of life, and parent–child relationship levels among Turkish parents of children with special needs.

Methods

Data were collected from 235 parents of children with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder using the Parent-to-Parent Support Perception Scale, WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scale, and Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the mediating role of quality of life.

Results

The findings indicate that quality of life partially mediates the relationship between the perception of parent-to-parent support and the parent–child relationship. The partial mediation model showed acceptable goodness-of-fit indices and significant path coefficients.

Conclusions

The study concluded that higher perceived parent-to-parent support enhances the quality of life, improving the parent–child relationship. This suggests that interventions aimed at increasing parent-to-parent support can positively impact the quality of life and strengthen parent–child relationships among parents of children with special needs.