The Relationship Between Physical Health and Meaning in Life Among Parents of Special Needs Children
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Bekenkamp, Janna
Groothof, Hinke Anita Klasina
Bloemers, Wim
Tomic, Welko
Abstract / Description
Whereas former research has studied the psychological health of parents raising a special needs child (a child with a disability or chronic disease), the present study focused on their perceived physical health in relation to meaning in life. Specifically, it was investigated whether physical health is positively related to the meaning in life dimensions self-actualization, self-acceptance and self-transcendence. Visitors of Dutch internet forums (N = 115) completed the Existential Fulfillment Scale and an inventory of subjective health, the VOEG-21. Parents of special needs children were found to suffer more health problems than the average population. In addition, self-actualization and self-acceptance were positively related to their perceived physical health. For self-transcendence, however, a negative relationship was established. The perceived poor health of these parents raising a special needs child implies a need for interventions for this group. The Existential Fulfillment Scale appears to be a useful instrument for identifying those parents in need of such interventions. Self-actualization and self-acceptance seem to be relevant subjects for therapeutic interventions and further research.
Keyword(s)
meaning in life self-acceptance self-actualization self-transcendence physical health caregiving parentsPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2014-02-28
Journal title
Europe's Journal of Psychology
Volume
10
Issue
1
Page numbers
67–78
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Bekenkamp, J., Groothof, H. A. K., Bloemers, W., & Tomic, W. (2014). The Relationship Between Physical Health and Meaning in Life Among Parents of Special Needs Children. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 10(1), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v10i1.674
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ejop.v10i1.674.pdfAdobe PDF - 431.38KBMD5: 2c617c8cb29b0596260da4ddc268f24b
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bekenkamp, Janna
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Groothof, Hinke Anita Klasina
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bloemers, Wim
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Tomic, Welko
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-21T09:59:04Z
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Made available on2018-11-21T09:59:04Z
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Date of first publication2014-02-28
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Abstract / DescriptionWhereas former research has studied the psychological health of parents raising a special needs child (a child with a disability or chronic disease), the present study focused on their perceived physical health in relation to meaning in life. Specifically, it was investigated whether physical health is positively related to the meaning in life dimensions self-actualization, self-acceptance and self-transcendence. Visitors of Dutch internet forums (N = 115) completed the Existential Fulfillment Scale and an inventory of subjective health, the VOEG-21. Parents of special needs children were found to suffer more health problems than the average population. In addition, self-actualization and self-acceptance were positively related to their perceived physical health. For self-transcendence, however, a negative relationship was established. The perceived poor health of these parents raising a special needs child implies a need for interventions for this group. The Existential Fulfillment Scale appears to be a useful instrument for identifying those parents in need of such interventions. Self-actualization and self-acceptance seem to be relevant subjects for therapeutic interventions and further research.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationBekenkamp, J., Groothof, H. A. K., Bloemers, W., & Tomic, W. (2014). The Relationship Between Physical Health and Meaning in Life Among Parents of Special Needs Children. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 10(1), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v10i1.674
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/876
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1068
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v10i1.674
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Keyword(s)meaning in lifeen_US
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Keyword(s)self-acceptanceen_US
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Keyword(s)self-actualizationen_US
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Keyword(s)self-transcendenceen_US
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Keyword(s)physical healthen_US
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Keyword(s)caregiving parentsen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe Relationship Between Physical Health and Meaning in Life Among Parents of Special Needs Childrenen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue1
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers67–78
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Volume10
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record