Social Support, Marital Satisfaction, Quality of Life and Locus of Control in Mothers with Chronically Ill and Healthy Children

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims compare social support, marital satisfaction, quality of life and locus of control between mothers of chronically ill and healthy children.

Material and methods: A causal comparative study was carried out on 200 mothers including 100 mothers of chronically ill children and 100 mothers of healthy children; aged between 19 to 55 years (MA=34.24; SD=6.41). The healthy group was blocked and matched on age and gender of the child. Participants were administered The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, WHO Quality of Life-BREF, Marital Satisfaction Scale, Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale and Demographic Form, respectively. Results were evaluated using Independent Sample t test, Cohen’s d, and MANOVA. Results: Social support (t=-8.55, p<.05, d=1.21; CI, -21.92 to -13.7), marital satisfaction (t=-4.70, p<.05, d=0.35; CI, -17.43 to-7.12) and quality of life [Environmental F(1,198)= 45.88, p<.00; Physical F(1,198)= 36.44, p<.00; Psychological F(1,198)= 50.65, p<.00; Social F(1,198)= 53.18, p<.00] scores were significantly higher in mothers of healthy children in comparison to mothers of chronically ill children, whereas locus of control scores showed no difference.

Conclusion: The mothers of healthy children reported better social support, quality of life and marital satisfaction in comparison to mothers of chronically ill children. However, locus of control failed to support any statistically significant difference between the two groups.