Structural Model of the Mediating Role of Differentiation Concerning Mental Health and Quality of Life in Married Female Teachers

Due to the special educational conditions, school teachers encounter more difficult tasks, and consequently, more vulnerability. The first step towards achieving a successful teaching staff is to understand the factors that affect the quality of teacherschr('39') activities. The main indicator of mental health is the quality of life index. Quality of life has also been introduced as a feeling of satisfaction with life and positive mental health status. Mental health is among the components affecting the quality of life. Another well–known component affecting the quality of life is differentiation. Quality of life is influenced by various characteristics, such as mental health and differentiation. The current research aimed to present a model of the relationship between mental health and quality of life with the mediation of differentiation.

This was a descriptive correlational study. The study statistical population was comprised of 725 married female teachers in exceptional schools in Kerman City, Iran, in the academic year of 2018–19. A sample of 373 individuals was selected using a multistage cluster random sampling method. Accordingly, the education districts of Kerman City were divided into 4 regions. Then, among the education districts, one area was randomly considered and the list of all female teachers working in the area was extracted. Finally, 373 patients were randomly selected as the study participants. The inclusion criteria for teachers were employed in schools in Kerman, having a BA degree, and having ≥4 years of teaching experience. The study exclusion criterion was the reluctance to participate in the study. The Short–Form 36–Item Health Survey Questionnaire (SF–36; Ware & Sherbourne, 1992), the General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979), and the Differentiation of Self Inventory (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998) were used to collect the necessary data. The model analysis was performed by AMOS. The basis of data analysis was structural equations and confirmatory factor analysis.

The total path coefficient (total direct and indirect path coefficient) of mental health to differentiation and from differentiation to quality of life (β=0.44, p<0.001) was positive and significant; the same was true about the direct path coefficient of mental health to the quality of life (β=0.15, p=0.033). The direct path of mental health to differentiation (β=0.71, p<0.001) and the direct path coefficients of differentiation to quality of life (β=0.92, p<0.001) were positive and significant. Finally, the indirect path coefficient of mental health was significant to the quality of life (β=0.07, p=0.045), i.e., like the indirect path coefficient of differentiation to quality of life (β=0.15, p=0.031). The collected results indicated a suitable fit for the model (RMSEA=0.068, AGFI=0.91).

Mental health through differentiation has a positive and significant relationship with teacherschr('39') quality of life; thus, differentiation through individualschr('39') ability to differentiate intellectual and emotional processes and emotional independence in emotional and emotional situations, as well as independent decision–making ability, can strengthen the indirect effect of mental health to improve their quality of life.