Modeling of Loneliness in Mothers with Children having Learning Disabilities: Social Support with a Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy

The aim of this study was the modeling of loneliness in mothers with Children having learning disabilities (LD) in terms of social support with a mediating role of self-efficacy.

The present study was a descriptive study with structural equations. The statistical population of the study included all mothers with children having learning disabilities who referred to psychotherapy centers in Tabriz in year 2020. Among them, through random sampling, 300 people were selected and they completed the questionnaires of Loneliness Russell and Pilva and Cortona, 1980), Social Support (Sherborn and Stewart, 1991) and Self-efficacy (Nicholas, 1989).The obtained data were analyzed using correlation coefficient and path analysis statistical method with the help of SPSS and AMOS softwares.

Findings showed that direct social support to self-efficacy (P = 0.0001, β = 0.360), is statistically significant. But direct social support to feeling lonely (P = 0.950, β = 0.007) is not statistically significant. Also, social support (P = 0.004, β = -0.141) was able to predict loneliness via negative and indirect method through self-efficacy.

According to the obtained results, it is possible to explain the role of social support and strengthen the self-efficacy of mothers with children having learning disabilities by conducting workshops and educational classes.