Resilience, meaning in life and self-efficacy in families with or without a member with special educational needs and disability during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Published: Feb 5, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.29161
Keywords:
self-efficacy meaning in life resilience families with and without a member with special educational needs and disability COVID-19
Assimina Tsibidaki
University of the Aegean
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6430-2436
Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the degree of resilience, meaning in life and self-efficacy in university students belonging to families with or without a member with special educational needs and disability (SEND) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study population consisted of 411 participants, 130 men και 281 women, 217 were parents and 194 were children (university students) at the 3rd and 4th years of their studies. The age of participants was 20-60 years. A Self-report Questionnaire, the Resilience Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy Scale were used for data collection. The findings showed that none of the participants were diagnosed with COVID-19 or had been classified as possible cases. Most stated that they agree or strongly agree that the pandemic has affected their daily lives, with positive and negative effects. In addition, they showed moderate resilience and higher levels of meaning in life and self-efficacy than the scales average. Statistically significant differences were identified: a) between families with or without one or more members with SEND, where families with one or more members with SEND showed higher degree of resilience and b) between parents and university students in the resilience and in the meaning of life in both its dimensions (presence and search). Statistically significant differences were found based on the existence or non-existence of a member with SEND in the family in combination with the age group related to the variables of resilience and meaning in life. Finally, there was statistically significant positive correlation between the effects of the pandemic COVID-19 with the overall resilience and the presence of meaning in life. The study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has multiple effects on both the individual and the family, and that in a time of health crisis individuals activate protective mechanisms and strategies that can enhance individual and family well-being.

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