Relationship of Mothers’ Spiritual, Social, and Mental Health and Self-efficacy with Child Development: A Path Analysis

Background Developmental disorders are important in children, but there is not enough information regarding risk factors, and their effects on developmental disorders. We aimed to design a relational model and assess the relationship of mothers’ spiritual, social, and mental health and self-efficacy with child development. Materials and Methods: The present analytical cross-sectional study enrolled ۲۸۵ mothers with ۱۸-month-old children through multistage sampling in health centers in Tehran, Iran. Mothers completed the following questionnaires in four months to collect the data: a demographic questionnaire, Paloutzian and Ellison’s Spiritual Health Scale, Keyes’ Social Health Scale, Goldberg’s mental health scale, Sherer’s Self-Efficacy Scale (SES), and the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ).The data and theoretical Path Model were analyzed using SPSS software version ۱۹.۰ and LISREL software version ۸.۸. Results: Developmental delay was observed in ۲۱.۸% (n=۶۲) of children. Maternal spiritual health, both directly (β=۰.۳۵), and indirectly, had an increasing and positive effect on the children’s development through increasing social health, increasing self-efficacy and decreasing mental health score (β=۰.۲۰۶). Maternal social health, both directly (β=۰.۱۶), and indirectly, had an increasing and positive effect on the children’s development through increasing self-efficacy (β=۰.۰۴۶۵). Maternal mental health had a direct and decreasing effect on the children’s development (β= -۰.۱۴), but mother’s self-efficacy had a direct and increasing effect on the children’s development (β= ۰.۳۱. The final path model was well-fitted (RMSEA=۰.۰۲۵, GFI=۱, NFI=۱). Conclusion Considering the results and the impact of factors such as spiritual, mental health, social health and self-efficacy on one another and the developmental delay in children, it appears necessary to screen for these factors for early diagnosis and intervention.

کلیدواژه ها:

Child ، Developmental delay ، Spiritual health ، Social health ، Mental health