The Social and Psychological Stresses and Needs of a Sample of Fathers and Mothers of Mental Disabled Children

A Cross-Cultural Differential Study

Abstract

This study aimsto know the nature of social and psychological stresses and needs of fathers and mothers of mental disabled children in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as the cross-cultural differences among these stresses and needs. The study sample consisted of two samples: the Egyptian sample which consists of (200) fathers and mothers of mental disabled children in Egypt, and the Saudi sample which consists of (200) fathers and mothers of mental disabled children in Saudi Arabia. The results showsthe following:

1- There are statistically significant differences between Egyptian fathers and mothers in psychological stresses.

2- There are statistically significant differences between Saudi fathers and mothers in psychological stresses.

3- There are statistically significant differences between Egyptian fathers and mothers in social and psychological needs.

4- There are statistically significant differences between Saudi fathers and mothers in social and psychological needs.

5- There are statistically significant differences in psychological stresses between Egyptian and Saudi fathers of mental disabled children.

6- There are statistically significantdifferences in psychological stresses between Egyptian and Saudi mothers of mental disabled children.

7- There are statistically significant differences in psychological and social needs between Egyptian and Saudi fathers of mental disabled children.

8- There are statistically significant differences in psychological and social needs between Egyptian and Saudi mothers of mental disabled children.