SPECIAL ASPECTS OF EMPATHY AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Physically disabled children need special conditions for development, socializing and upbringing. The adaptation process of such children is much more difficult and longer. They are often behind other children in their emotional, cognitive, and volitional spheres because their mental structures and functions develop in another way than those of healthy children. One of the most important educational aspects of the disabled children is the skill to understand and accept them because the emotional contacts with their parents are very important for such children. Parents should build up warm emotional mutual relations and enjoy the time spent with a child. Therefore it is very significant for such parents to have well-developed emotional intelligence and empathy at a high level. The paper deals with the empirical study of special aspects of empathy and emotional intelligence of parents of physically disabled children compared to parents whose children are conditionally healthy. The empirical study of empathy and emotional intelligence of parents of physically disabled children was carried out in April 2019. 28 parents participated in the study: 14 parents of physically disabled children and 14 parents of healthy children. To determine the level of empathetic abilities, the authors used the technique of B.B. Boiko. To evaluate the emotional intelligence, the authors used the technique of N. Hall (EQ questionnaire). The study determined that parents of physically disabled children do not sympathize with other people while they can control their own emotions and understand other people’s state. The revealed peculiarities can be the result of the nature of the educational and educative situation in their family system.