Volume 24, Issue 6 (9-2025)
JRUMS 2025, 24(6): 525-538 |
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Ethics code: IR.BASU.REC.1403.054
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Zoghi Paydar M R, Mohagheghi H, Ghasemi Rahmatabadi M, Roshanaei M R, Ghorbany Z, Amirabadi Z et al . The Relationship between Marital Satisfaction and Quality of Life Mediated by Psychological Distress in Mothers of Children with Cancer: A Descriptive Study. JRUMS 2025; 24 (6) :525-538
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7687-en.html
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7687-en.html
Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar 
, Hossein Mohagheghi , Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi , Mohammad Reza Roshanaei , Zeinab Ghorbany , Zahra Amirabadi , Shahryar Yarmohamadi Vasel
, Hossein Mohagheghi , Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi , Mohammad Reza Roshanaei , Zeinab Ghorbany , Zahra Amirabadi , Shahryar Yarmohamadi Vasel
Bu-Ali Sina University
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The Relationship between Marital Satisfaction and Quality of Life Mediated by Psychological Distress in Mothers of Children with Cancer: A Descriptive Study
Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar[1], Hossein Mohagheghi[2], Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi[3], Mohammad Reza Roshanaei[4], Zeinab Ghorbany[5], Zahra Amirabadi[6], Shahryar Yarmohamadi Vasel[7]
Received: 08/03/25 Sent for Revision: 07/05/25 Received Revised Manuscript: 22/06/25 Accepted:24/06/25
Background and Objectives: Mothers of children with cancer experience high psychological vulnerability due to the heavy burden of caregiving responsibilities and constant exposure to treatment-related stressors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between marital satisfaction and quality of life, with psychological distress as a mediating factor among mothers of pediatric cancer patients.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with cancer in Tehran in 2024, from which 217 participants were selected via convenience sampling. Research tools included Quality of Life (WHO, 1997), Psychological Distress (Kessler et al., 2002) and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (Olson & Fowers, 1989) Scales. Data analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation and SEM.
Results: The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between marital satisfaction and quality of life (r=0.35) and a significant negative correlation with psychological distress (r=-0.37) (p<0.01). Psychological distress also showed a significant negative correlation with quality of life (r=-0.47, p<0.01). Bootstrap analysis confirmed the significant indirect effect of marital satisfaction on quality of life through psychological distress (β=0.10, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.16).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated an indirect relationship between marital satisfaction and quality of life mediated by psychological distress in mothers of children with cancer. Accordingly, it is recommended to design and implement family-centered intervention programs targeting psychological distress reduction and marital satisfaction enhancement to improve these mothers’ quality of life.
Keywords: Psychological distress, Marital satisfaction, Cancer, Child, Quality of life, Mothers
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Bu-Ali Sina University approved the study (IR.BASU.REC.1403.054).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi
- Methodology: Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar
- Data collection: Zeinab Ghorbany, Zahra Amirabadi
- Formal analysis: Mohammad Reza Roshanaei
- Supervision: Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar
- Project administration: Hossein Mohagheghi
- Writing – original draft: Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi
- Writing – review & editing: Shahryar Yarmohamadi Vasel
Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar[1], Hossein Mohagheghi[2], Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi[3], Mohammad Reza Roshanaei[4], Zeinab Ghorbany[5], Zahra Amirabadi[6], Shahryar Yarmohamadi Vasel[7]
Received: 08/03/25 Sent for Revision: 07/05/25 Received Revised Manuscript: 22/06/25 Accepted:24/06/25
Background and Objectives: Mothers of children with cancer experience high psychological vulnerability due to the heavy burden of caregiving responsibilities and constant exposure to treatment-related stressors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between marital satisfaction and quality of life, with psychological distress as a mediating factor among mothers of pediatric cancer patients.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with cancer in Tehran in 2024, from which 217 participants were selected via convenience sampling. Research tools included Quality of Life (WHO, 1997), Psychological Distress (Kessler et al., 2002) and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (Olson & Fowers, 1989) Scales. Data analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation and SEM.
Results: The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between marital satisfaction and quality of life (r=0.35) and a significant negative correlation with psychological distress (r=-0.37) (p<0.01). Psychological distress also showed a significant negative correlation with quality of life (r=-0.47, p<0.01). Bootstrap analysis confirmed the significant indirect effect of marital satisfaction on quality of life through psychological distress (β=0.10, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.16).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated an indirect relationship between marital satisfaction and quality of life mediated by psychological distress in mothers of children with cancer. Accordingly, it is recommended to design and implement family-centered intervention programs targeting psychological distress reduction and marital satisfaction enhancement to improve these mothers’ quality of life.
Keywords: Psychological distress, Marital satisfaction, Cancer, Child, Quality of life, Mothers
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Bu-Ali Sina University approved the study (IR.BASU.REC.1403.054).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi
- Methodology: Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar
- Data collection: Zeinab Ghorbany, Zahra Amirabadi
- Formal analysis: Mohammad Reza Roshanaei
- Supervision: Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paydar
- Project administration: Hossein Mohagheghi
- Writing – original draft: Mina Ghasemi Rahmatabadi
- Writing – review & editing: Shahryar Yarmohamadi Vasel
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Citation: Zoghi Paydar MR, Mohagheghi H, Ghasemi Rahmatabadi M, Roshanaei MR, Ghorbany Z, Amirabadi Z, Yarmohamadi Vasel Sh. The Relationship between Marital Satisfaction and Quality of Life Mediated by Psychological Distress in Mothers of Children with Cancer: A Descriptive Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2025; 24 (6): 525-38. [Farsi]
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[1]- Associate Prof., Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
[2]- Associate Prof., Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
ORCID: 0000-0002-4232-2273
(Corresponding Author) Tel: (081)31401863, h.mohagheghi@basu.ac.ir
ORCID: 0000-0002-4232-2273
(Corresponding Author) Tel: (081)31401863, h.mohagheghi@basu.ac.ir
[3]- MSc in Educational Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Hamadan Branch, Hamadan, Iran
[4]- PhD Candidate in Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
[5]- PhD Candidate in Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
[6]- MSc Student in Educational Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
[7]- Prof., Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Oncology
Received: 2025/03/7 | Accepted: 2025/06/24 | Published: 2025/09/19
Received: 2025/03/7 | Accepted: 2025/06/24 | Published: 2025/09/19
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