A Study on Parenting Stress With Sensory Defensiveness and the Quality of Life

감각방어유무에 따른 양육스트레스와 삶의 질에 관한 연구

Objective : This study was to find out whether there was a difference between parenting stress of parents with and without sensory defensiveness and level of the quality of life, to analyze the factors related with parenting stress of parents and quality of life and to develop intervention program to improve quality of life of parents that care children with problem on sensory process. Methods : The population of this study was consisted of 82 children aged from 3 to 7 years and was treated occupational therapy in clinics or welfare centers for disabled persons. Parenting stress was assessed with Parenting Stress Index and the quality of life scales used by Lee Jeong-Eun was used to assess the level of quality of life. Result : The difference between parenting stress with and without sensory defensiveness and level of quality of life was only shown in parenting stress, and the correlation between parenting stress with and without sensory defensiveness and quality of life indicated negative correlation in both sensory defensiveness and no sensory defensiveness group(r=-0.52, r=-0.65, p<0.05). This study found there was significant difference between quality of life factors affecting parenting stress of parents and parenting stress factors affecting quality of life in sensory defensiveness and no sensory defensiveness group. Conclusion : The study showed that clinicians must develop appropriative intervention program with sensory defensiveness or without sensory defensiveness for decreasing parenting stress and increasing quality of life for their parents.