Journal of Counseling Research

This qualitative study was done for the purpose of comparing the couple relationships in the view of mothers of children with disability and mothers of normal children. For doing this qualitative study , 12 mothers with mentally retarded children in the daily rehabilitation center of Ahang and 12 mothers with normal children who referred to quarter houses of Nabi Akram and Chaharsad Dastgah , were chosen by convenience sampling method. General and open questions in the subject of co-parent communication were expressed through in-depth interview. The information gained from interviews analyzed and coded with content - analysis method and with the Strauss-Corbin model. The results have also shown that parents of normal children communicate better than parents of mentally retarded children. In terms of self-attention and having talking skills , paying attention to life partner and using healthy communicational patterns , parents of normal children are in a better situation , but there was no noticeable difference in the problem-solving methods in both families. Relationships among couples are one of the crucial basics of the family which play an important role in adapting family members with the suffering member. Thus , it needs more researches in the context of couple relationships in these families. furthermore , since mothers have closer relationship with the disabled child , they face more impairment both physically and emotionally. So they need more educational programs and incorporeal supports.