The mediating role of social support in predicting general health based on emotional control in mothers of children with cancer

Cancer is a chronic medical illness that can affect the psychological well-being and quality of life of individuals, including children and their families. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of social support in predicting general health based on emotional control in the mothers of children with cancer. The statistical population included the mothers of children with cancer in Tehran; 205 subjects were selected as sample. The research tools used for the study included the Philips’s Social Support (SS-A), Roger and Nesshoever’s Emotional Control Questionnaire (ECQ) and Goldberg general health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data were analyzed using correlation coefficient (structural equation modeling). The results of the study indicated that social support played a mediating role in predicting general health. In addition, social support had a significantly direct impact on general health (-.75). Emotional control had a significantly direct (.36) and indirect impact on general health (.63). From the findings of the research, it can be concluded that social support and emotional control influenced general health among the mothers of children with cancer. Therefore, training in these areas can help increase the general health among mothers of children with cancer.