Quality of life among amputees: A mediating role of social support

Background: Social support for amputee patients can get them out of the atmosphere of illness or disability and inspire them with a great deal of optimism and hope and make them forget the missing part, even if temporarily. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support and quality of life (QoL) among amputees. Materials and Methods: The research was carried included 250 clients who undergo lower and upper amputation, using a standardized questionnaire for measuring the social support and QoL (WHOQOL-BREF) of amputees who attended Babylon Rehabilitation Centers, Iraq. Data were collected using interviews on individual bases with the participants and analyzed by descriptive and inferential approaches. Results: The results indicate the average age of the women was 50 years (ranged 50–59 years), male (68.8%), married (61.2%), secondary school (38%), employment (34%), insufficient monthly income (41.2%), amputation due to conditions (48.4%), in lower extremities (56.4%) for more than 10 years on amputation (48.8%). The results show that social support is positively significant with physical QoL (r = 0.153; P = 0.000), psychological QoL (r = 0.235; P = 0.000), and social QoL (r = 0.170; P = 0.000). QoL among amputees was significant (positive) and related to social support (r = 0.250; P = 0.000). Conclusions: Amputees who receive social support from others develop self-confidence, can support others socially, are less likely to suffer from mental illnesses, and are better able to deal with frustration. We discover that social support boosts the individual’s capacity to withstand frustration and lessens a great deal of psychological anguish since the person can handle his problems in a sensible and good way. Strong social support from family, friends, and community members enables amputees to deal with challenges and live their life more successfully.