Meaning In Life and Subjective Well-Being of Parents of Children with Disabilities

Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

Year: 2026

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Meaning In Life and Subjective Well-Being of Parents of Children with Disabilities

Maria Platsidou, Anastasia Mavridou

ABSTRACT:

The relationship between meaning in life and subjective well-being is complex and multifaceted. The present study aimed to examine the associations between global and situational meaning in life and subjective well-being among parents of children with disabilities. Subjective well-being was operationalized through family satisfaction and subjective happiness. Additionally, the study investigated whether benefit-finding, a meaning-focused coping strategy, mediates the relationship between meaning in life and subjective well-being. The sample consisted of 186 parents of children with disabilities, the majority of whom were women. Participants completed self-report measures assessing the presence of meaning in life (global meaning), personal control (situational meaning), benefit-finding strategy, family satisfaction, and subjective happiness. Results indicated that both the presence of meaning in life and personal control were positively associated with higher levels of family satisfaction and subjective happiness. Moreover, benefit-finding was found to partially mediate the relationships between both meaning-related variables and the two indicators of subjective well-being. This suggests that parents who perceive greater meaning in their lives and feel a stronger sense of control are more likely to experience well-being, in part because they are better able to identify positive aspects or outcomes related to their parenting experience. These findings have important implications for mental health professionals working with parents of children with disabilities. Incorporating interventions that enhance benefit-finding may strengthen parents’ sense of meaning and well-being by helping them reframe disability-related challenges and recognize positive consequences and personal growth.

Keywords: family satisfaction; parental well-being; personal control; subjective happiness; situational meaning