2014 Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 1-9
The objective of this study was to clarify the structure of psychological adaptation among mothers of children with chronic illnesses.
This quantitative study used a self-reported questionnaire for subjects comprised 247 mothers of children with illnesses, along with 332 mothers of children with no illnesses. Survey contents were mental health, coping and resilience, as factors related psychological adaptation. For analysis, in addition to descriptive statistics, parametric tests were performed for intergroup comparisons. Subsequently, a psychological stress adaptation model for mothers was created based on covariance structure analysis, and tests were performed for multiple populations.
As a result, mothers of children with chronic condition showed poorer mental health status compared with mothers of healthy children, and a significantly lower level of factors “I am” and “I will/do” in regard to resilience, and coping for “positive interpretation”. In the covariance structure model, components of stress adaptation among mothers of children with illnesses were strongly influenced by “confidence”, and high path coefficients were seen for the items of “optimism” and “peace of mind”, which comprise “flexible strength”.
These results suggested that we should approve the effort of parent, and support to show long term visions for mothers of children with chronic illnesses.
