Open AccessStructural Equation Model for Family Communication during Pandemic in Family with Special Needs Children
Author(s) -
Maulana Rezi Ramadhana,
Kurniasih Dewi,
Retno Setyorini,
Agnessya Nurrezqia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of behavioural sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2710-5865
DOI - 10.55057/ajbs.2021.3.4.1
Subject(s) - structural equation modeling , adaptation (eye) , affect (linguistics) , psychology , pandemic , developmental psychology , social psychology , covid-19 , medicine , communication , computer science , disease , pathology , neuroscience , machine learning , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed family life, which has undergone adjustments in new routines and habits, especially for families with special needs children. This study investigates how family communication affects emotional, social, and household barriers and how family adaptation mediates the relationship between family communication and barriers that arise in families with blind and speech-impaired children during a pandemic. The sample came from 361 parents of blind and deaf children in five cities in Indonesia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. The results showed that (1) family communication was significantly related to their family adaptation; (2) family communication did not directly affect emotional problems, social barriers, and household activities; and (3) family communication and adaptation were significantly related to emotional problems, social barriers and household problems in their families. Family communication did not directly eliminate social and emotional barriers and problems during the pandemic. Still, it takes the role of family adaptation that can provide dynamics to sharing messages in the family. The implications of this study regarding theory and practice, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.