Religious Coping as Mediator of Sense of Competence and Post-traumatic Growth in Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy

Objectives

The present study aimed to determine whether religious coping mediates the relationship between parenting sense of competence (PSOC) and post-traumatic growth (PTG).

Method

Cross-sectional research design was used. A sample of 74 mothers (age range; 20–45 years) of CP children (age range; 2–9 years) was collected through purposive sampling from different physiotherapy centres and special education schools of Lahore. PSOC scale, brief RCOPE and PTG inventory were used.

Results

Positive religious coping partially mediated (β = 0.190, 95% CI [0.026, 0.374], p < 0.05) between PSOC and PTG. Partial mediation exists between PSOC and appreciation of life through pathway of positive religious coping (β = 0.040, 95% CI [0.007, 0.075], p < 05). Full mediation exists between PSOC and personal strength through pathway of positive religious coping (β = 0.041, 95% CI [0.001, 0.081], p < 0.05) and through negative religious coping (β = 0.034, 95% CI [0.002, 0.066], p < 0.05). Positive religious coping fully mediated (β = 0.029, 95% CI [0.007, 0.058], p < 0.05) between PSOC and spiritual change. Moreover, indirect effect of PSOC on relating to others and new possibilities through positive and negative religious coping was non-significant, indicating no mediation.

Conclusion

Positive religious coping affected the association between PSOC and PTG, that is, mothers of CP children having high parenting competence are more likely to use positive religious coping strategies that results in more PTG.