Parents of handicapped children are experiencing difficulties in their children's care, social isolation, change of life style and lirnited leisure time. Because the parents should take care of the children's daily life, they have lots of psychological and physical stress. Chronic stress of parents puts stress to the other family members and affects the development of children with handicap. The purpose of this study were to identify the level of stress in each of parents of children with motor problem, the characteristics of the children and general information related with the children, and to analyse the stress by reasons. Specially organized questionnaire were used for an investigation method. "Test of stress in mother who has children with chronic illness" by Kim Hee-soon were modified and used. The questionnaire answered by 43 mothers and 35 fathers were analyzed. Data analysis includes frequency analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, paired-samples t-test and MANOV A by SPSSWIN. The results were as follows: 1) Degree of handicap was most moderate (46.5%), level of motor development was most pull to walk (34.9%), and combined handicap was 69.8%. 2) Sexual distribution represented that 51.2% male and 48.8% female. The cost of physical therapy was 69.8% in no more than 100,000 won. 3) The mean of age, for the mother was 32.8 years and 35.3 years. Level of motor development that mother and father expect was 88.4%, 83% walk alone. 4) Both mother and father experienced stress in other of Part II (changes in father was the illness status of the child and difficulty in taking care of child), Part III (prognosis of the child's condition), Part I (social-personal relationships and the responsibility of the care givers). In the total score of stress, mother's stress is indicated higher level than father's stress. 5) There was no correlationship between characteristics and stress of mother and father. 6) There was no statistically significant difference between characteristics and related general information of children with handicap and stress of mother and father. As a results, the mother of children with handicap are experiencing more stress than the father. Both of parents have the most difficulties in the changes in the illness status of the child and difficulty in taking care of child. This study can be used as resources of education, therapy and counselling for children with handicap and their parents. This study, also, can be used to encourage the quality of Iife for the children with handicapped and their family.ㅂ

• 송주영(부산광역시 장애인종합복지관) | Song Ju-young