SUMMARY
Objectives: Realizing the issue of the slow-learning of the child could be considered as a catastrophic mental pressure for the mother. On the other hand, the existence of a slow-learner child in family could be a source of mental pressure which could expose family members, especially the mother to the future emotional crises as well as preparation for extreme reactions and disorders related to the mental pressure. This study aimed at comparing the family performance and psychological needs of mothers with slow-learning children and those with normal children. Methods: Regarding purpose, this study is fundamental and is based on the nature of Casual-Comparative research method. The population consisted of all mothers of slow and normal learning children in the city of Ahwaz in the academic year 2014-2015. Who were selected through convenience sampling method. The number of the selected samples was 200 including 100 normal students and 100 slow-learning students. To collect data and obtain information, field research as well as family functioning (FAD) and psychological needs (PNG) scales and questionnaires were applied. To analyze data, multivariate analysis of variance was applied. Results: The results of the study revealed that there is a significant difference at P<0.01 level between “psychological needs and family functioning” of mothers of slow-learning and normal children. Conclusion as: Mothers of slow-learning children were shown to have lower family functioning as well as more inter-personal problems in comparison to mothers of normal children. Thus plans should be made in order to protect these mothers and interfere in urgent cases.