The Predictive Ability of Parental Attitudes on the Aggressive Behaviors of Children with Mental Disabilities in Light of Some Variables

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the level of parents’ attitudes towards their children with mental disabilities, and to determine the level of aggressive behavior of children with mental disabilities, in light of some variables. The study also aimed to measure the predictive ability of aggressive behaviors of children with mental disabilities and its relationship to parental attitudes. The study sample consisted of (125) parents of children with mental disabilities (simple, moderate, and severe). To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher built two measures: a measure of parental attitudes and a measure of aggressive behaviour, after referring to several relevant studies and references. The validity and reliability of the two study scales were confirmed. The results of the study showed that the level of parents’ attitudes towards their children with mental disabilities was moderate, and that there were statistically significant differences in the level of parents’ attitudes due to the variables of gender and the level of severity of the disability. The results of the study indicated that the level of aggressive behavior of children with mental disabilities was moderate. The results also showed that there were statistically significant differences in the level of aggressive behavior due to the variables of the gender of the child with a disability and the level of severity of the disability. Finally, the results of the study showed that the variables of parental attitudes involved in predicting aggressive behaviors were represented by the domain of cruelty and had a high degree, followed by the domains of oscillation and rejection.