Volume 12, Issue 3 (September 2025)
Health Spiritual Med Ethics 2025, 12(3): 223-232 |
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Talebi M, Ghazanfari A. Parental Self-efficacy and Spiritual Intelligence Impact Mothers' Psychological Well-being, Mediated by Alexithymia, in Families of Children With Intellectual Disabilities. Health Spiritual Med Ethics 2025; 12 (3) :223-232
URL: http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-619-en.html
URL: http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-619-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, ShK.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
2- Department of Psychology, ShK.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran. ,ghazanfariahmd@gmail.com
2- Department of Psychology, ShK.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran. ,
Abstract: (709 Views)
Background and Objectives: The psychological well-being of mothers raising children with intellectual disabilities is a critical area of inquiry, particularly concerning the interplay between parental confidence and spiritual resources. This study aimed to explore the relationships between parental self-efficacy and spiritual intelligence and the psychological well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities, while assessing the mediating role of alexithymia in these relationships.
Methods: This study utilized a descriptive correlational research design. The target population comprised all mothers of children with intellectual disabilities residing in Tehran City, Iran, in 2024. A convenience sample of 269 mothers was recruited. Data were collected using the psychological well-being scale, parental self-agency measure, spiritual intelligence questionnaire, and Toronto Alexithymia scale. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the proposed model.
Results: Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between alexithymia and psychological well-being (r=−0.45) and a positive correlation between spiritual intelligence and psychological well-being (r=0.36). Significant negative correlations were found between spiritual intelligence and alexithymia (r=−0.47) and parental self-efficacy and alexithymia (r=−0.23). A significant positive relationship existed between parental self-efficacy and psychological well-being (r=0.18). Additionally, spiritual intelligence and parental self-efficacy significantly influenced psychological well-being through alexithymia mediation (P<0.001). The estimated structural equation model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR]: 0.08, normed fit index [NFI]: 0.79).
Conclusion: This study identified alexithymia as a critical mediator between spiritual intelligence, parental self-efficacy, and psychological well-being, demonstrating significant direct and indirect relationships, independent of child gender. These findings emphasize the clinical relevance of targeting alexithymia and promoting spiritual intelligence and parental self-efficacy to improve psychological well-being in this population.
Methods: This study utilized a descriptive correlational research design. The target population comprised all mothers of children with intellectual disabilities residing in Tehran City, Iran, in 2024. A convenience sample of 269 mothers was recruited. Data were collected using the psychological well-being scale, parental self-agency measure, spiritual intelligence questionnaire, and Toronto Alexithymia scale. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the proposed model.
Results: Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between alexithymia and psychological well-being (r=−0.45) and a positive correlation between spiritual intelligence and psychological well-being (r=0.36). Significant negative correlations were found between spiritual intelligence and alexithymia (r=−0.47) and parental self-efficacy and alexithymia (r=−0.23). A significant positive relationship existed between parental self-efficacy and psychological well-being (r=0.18). Additionally, spiritual intelligence and parental self-efficacy significantly influenced psychological well-being through alexithymia mediation (P<0.001). The estimated structural equation model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR]: 0.08, normed fit index [NFI]: 0.79).
Conclusion: This study identified alexithymia as a critical mediator between spiritual intelligence, parental self-efficacy, and psychological well-being, demonstrating significant direct and indirect relationships, independent of child gender. These findings emphasize the clinical relevance of targeting alexithymia and promoting spiritual intelligence and parental self-efficacy to improve psychological well-being in this population.
Keywords: Spiritual intelligence, Parents, Self-efficacy, Psychological well-being, Intellectual disability, Affective symptoms
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/04/11 | Accepted: 2025/05/18 | Published: 2025/09/1
Received: 2025/04/11 | Accepted: 2025/05/18 | Published: 2025/09/1
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