Path analysis of perceived social support, coping strategies and demographic characteristics with psychological adaptation of mothers of children with cancer

Introduction: Children's cancer is a special bio-psychological status that challenges the percieved social support and coping strategies of mothers with different demographic characteristics and affects their psychological adaptation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect role of demographic characteristics (age and education level), with the mediating role of perceived social support and coping strategies, on adaptation. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with cancer who referred to the clinics of pediatric specialists in Mashhad. The sample size was 220 people who were selected by the targeted sampling method. Data were gathered using a psychosocial adaptation questionnaire, Lazarus and Folkman coping, multi-dimensional perceived social support, and demographic characteristics. Results: According to the results of this study, the increase in education directly reduced the maladaptation (P <0.01) and indirectly through increased perceived social support, increased problem-solving strategies, and decreased emotional strategy reduced maladaptation. Increasing age directly reduced emotional strategies, but had no effect on problem-oriented strategies. Also, increasing age did not have direct and indirect effects through coping strategies on maternal adaptation. Conclusions: According to the findings, it can be said that increasing education, both directly and indirectly, through the mediation of perceived social support and coping strategies, increases adaptation. In addition, this increase in age decreased emotional strategies, but there was no direct and indirect relationship between age and maternal adaptation.