Family treatment and its relationship to behavioral disorders of people with mental disabilities in Palestine

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the relationship between family treatment and behavioral disorders among individuals with intellectual disabilities in Palestine. The descriptive correlational approach was used. The study sample consisted of 34 special education specialists in the city of Jenin, selected using the purposive total sampling method. A questionnaire was used as the study tool, consisting of 60 items divided into two main axes: the first axis focused on family treatment, and the second on behavioral disorders. The reliability coefficient (Cronbach's Alpha) for the family treatment scale was 0.962, indicating a high level of internal consistency among the scale items. The behavioral disorders scale also achieved a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.923, reflecting a high level of reliability. One of the most important findings of the study was that the level of family treatment had a mean score of 4.53, indicating a very high response level. The level of behavioral disorders had a mean score of 4.07, indicating a high response level. The study concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship at the significance level (α ≤ 0.05) between family treatment and behavioral disorders among individuals with intellectual disabilities in Palestine. There were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≤ 0.05) in family treatment and its relationship to behavioral disorders attributed to variables such as gender, educational level, academic program, and years of experience. The study recommended the implementation of regular workshops for parents to enable them to understand the nature of intellectual disability and how to deal with the associated behavioral disorders. It also encouraged staff at special education centers to exchange experiences through regular professional meetings to unify educational approaches. Moreover, the study emphasized the importance of including the topic of family treatment and its impact on behavior in training programs for special education professionals to enhance awareness of the social and psychological influencing factors.