The Relationship of Well-Being, And General Role Participation And Parental Role Satisfaction in Mothers with SCI: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between participation and well-being in mothers with SCI. Twenty-nine women with a spinal cord injury participated in the study. The inclusion criteria was being a mother with a spinal cord injury living in the community and actively parenting at least one child under the age of 12 who were currently living with them. Three standardized instruments were used for this study; the Parental Participation Scale, the Role Physical and Role Emotional subscales of the SF-36, and the Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale and six subscales. A correlation matrix was performed examining the relationship between General Role Participation and Well-being for mothers with SCI using Pearson's correlations. The overall well-being scale score for women with spinal cord injury significantly correlated with role physical and role emotional scales indicating the greater the well-being the greater the role participation (less limitation for physical or emotional reasons). Positive relations with others, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance subscales were significantly correlated with role physical and role emotional. In addition, autonomy, personal growth, and purpose in life were significantly correlated with the subscale of role emotional. Another correlation matrix was performed examining the relationship between well-being and satisfaction with parental participation, using Pearson's correlations. The total and all the subscales of well-being (positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life and self-acceptance) were significantly correlated with the satisfaction subscale of the parental participation scale. Occupational therapists can utilize these findings when working with mothers with spinal cord injury by addressing the personal well-being factors (such as self-acceptance, environmental mastery and positive relations with others) that significantly contribute to greater participation and satisfaction with parental participation. Also, occupational therapists can advocate in the community/home to make needed environmental modifications to normalize participation, as well as facilitating interpersonal support through educating family and friends to promote the well-being of these women.