Parental Attitudes of Parents with Physical Disabilities and the Self-Esteem of Their Children

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between parental attitudes displayed by parents with physical disabilities and the self-esteem level of their children. The research problem was formulated around three key questions: 1) What parental attitudes are demonstrated by women with physical disabilities compared to men with physical disabilities? 2) What is the self-esteem level of children raised by mothers with physical disabilities compared to those raised by fathers with physical disabilities? 3) Is there a relationship between parental attitudes and the self-esteem of children raised by parents with physical disabilities, and if so, what is its nature? The study involved 59 parents (26 mothers and 33 fathers) and their children aged 14–18. The research instruments used were the Parental Attitudes Scale by M. Plopa and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES). The results showed that the parental attitudes presented by parents with physical disabilities were most often inappropriate or moderately appropriate, while the children’s self-esteem levels were predominantly low or very low. Correlational analysis revealed weak and mostly statistically insignificant relationships between the variables. These findings indicate a need for systemic psychoeducational support for parents with physical disabilities, particularly in the area of enhancing parenting competencies