SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Spiritual Psychology and Counseling / 2026 / Volume: 11 Issue: 2

Despair as a Gateway: The Complete Mediating Role of Hopelessness in the Relationship Between Maternal Spiritual Coping and Life Satisfaction Among Mothers of Children with Disabilities

Türkiye’de Engelli Çocuğu Olan Annelerde Manevi Başa Çıkma ile Yaşam Doyumu Arasındaki İlişkide Umutsuzluğun Aracı Rolü

Gülşen Topal(İstanbul 29 Mayıs Üniversitesi)0000-0001-7010-3644
Merve İçöz(UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES)
Melih Özbek0000-0001-7578-600X
Kübra Dombak(SAKARYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EĞİTİM BİLİMLERİ ENSTİTÜSÜ)
Elif Karadeniz
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-06-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results suggest that spiritual coping serves as a protective resource that buffers the negative impact of future anxiety on mothers' well-being.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Mothers of children with developmental disabilities often experience high levels of stress and future anxiety.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The study was conducted with 207 mothers whose children attend special education and rehabilitation centers.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The results suggest that spiritual coping serves as a protective resource that buffers the negative impact of future anxiety on mothers' well-being.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:mothers of children with disabilities · Maternal spiritual coping · Hopelessness

Abstract

Mothers of children with developmental disabilities often experience high levels of stress and future anxiety. This study aims to examine the relationships between spiritual coping, hopelessness, and life satisfaction among mothers of children with developmental disabilities in Türkiye, and specifically to test the mediating role of hopelessness in the relationship between spiritual coping and life satisfaction. The study was conducted with 207 mothers whose children attend special education and rehabilitation centers. Data were collected using the Spiritual Coping Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The hypotheses were tested using mediation analysis (Process Macro Model 4). The findings demonstrated that spiritual coping has a significant positive direct effect on life satisfaction. Furthermore, hopelessness was found to play a partial mediating role in this relationship. Specifically, higher levels of spiritual coping were associated with reduced hopelessness, which in turn contributed to increased life satisfaction. The results suggest that spiritual coping serves as a protective resource that buffers the negative impact of future anxiety on mothers' well-being. These findings highlight the importance of integrating spiritual resources and cognitive restructuring techniques regarding hopelessness into psychosocial interventions, such as Spiritually Oriented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (S-CBT), intended for mothers of children with disabilities.

Özet

Gelişimsel yetersizliği olan çocukların anneleri sıklıkla yüksek düzeyde tress ve gelecek kaygısı yaşamaktadır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de gelişimsel yetersizliği olan çocukların annelerinde manevi başa çıkma, umutsuzluk ve yaşam doyumu arasındaki ilişkileri incelemeyi ve özellikle manevi başa çıkma ile yaşam doyumu arasındaki ilişkide umutsuzluğun aracı rolünü test etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, çocukları özel eğitim ve rehabilitasyon merkezlerine devam eden 207 anne ile yürütülmüştür. Veriler; Manevi Başa Çıkma Ölçeği, Beck Umutsuzluk Ölçeği ve Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Hipotezler, aracılık analizi (Process Macro Model 4) kullanılarak test edilmiştir. Bulgular, manevi başa çıkmanın yaşam doyumu üzerinde anlamlı ve pozitif yönde doğrudan bir etkisi olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca, umutsuzluğun bu ilişkide kısmi aracı bir rol oynadığı saptanmıştır. Özellikle, yüksek düzeyde manevi başa çıkma, umutsuzluğun azalmasıyla ilişkili bulunmuş ve bu durum dolaylı olarak yaşam doyumunun artmasına katkı sağlamıştır. Sonuçlar, manevi başa çıkmanın, gelecek kaygısının annelerin iyi oluşu üzerindeki olumsuz etkisini tamponlayan koruyucu bir kaynak olarak işlev gördüğünü düşündürmektedir. Bu bulgular, engelli çocuğu olan annelere yönelik Manevi Yönelimli Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapi (M-BDT) gibi psikososyal müdahalelere, manevi kaynakların ve umutsuzluğa ilişkin bilişsel yeniden yapılandırma tekniklerinin entegre edilmesinin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Topal, G., İçöz, M., Özbek, M., Dombak, K., Karadeniz, E. (2026). Despair as a Gateway: The Complete Mediating Role of Hopelessness in the Relationship Between Maternal Spiritual Coping and Life Satisfaction Among Mothers of Children with Disabilities. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, Volume: 11 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.37898/spiritualpc.1855714

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (48)

  1. Abramson, L. Y., Metalsky, G. I., & Alloy, L. B. (1989). Hopelessness depression: A theory-based subtype of depression. Psychological Review, 96(2), 358–372. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.96.2.358
  2. Acar, B. (2025). Aile sistemleri kuramı bağlamında engelli çocuğa sahip babaların ilişkisel deneyimlerine yönelik fenomenolojik bir inceleme. Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 27(Aile Özel Sayısı), 455–485. https://doi.org/10.32709/akusosbil.1697205
  3. Alemdar, D. K., Yılmaz, G., & Günaydin, N. (2022). The spiritual and religious coping of mothers with disabled children in Turkey: Correlation between stress coping styles and self-efficacy. Journal of Religion and Health, 62, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01630-5
  4. Ayten, A., & Karagöz, S. (2021). Religiosity, spirituality, forgiveness, religious coping as predictors of life satisfaction and generalized anxiety: A quantitative study on Turkish Muslim university students. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 6(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.37898/spc.2021.6.1.130
  5. Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 861–865. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0037562
  6. Bennett, T., DeLuca, D. A., & Allen, R. W. (1996). Families of children with disabilities: Positive adaptation across the life cycle. Social Work in Education, 18(1), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/18.1.31
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Facts about developmental disabilities. https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/about/developmental-disability-basics.html
  8. Çetinbakış, G., Baştuğ, G., & Özel-Kızıl, E. T. (2018). Factors contributing to higher caregiving burden in Turkish mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 66(1), 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2018.1478630
  9. Çetisli, N. E., Isık, G., Akgul, E. A., Topaloglu Oren, E. D., Oztornacı, B. O., & Sarı, H. Y. (2018). Experiences of infant and child care of mothers with disabilities in Turkey: A qualitative study. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 22(4), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2018/v22i4.9
  10. Dąbrowska, A., & Pisula, E. (2010). Parenting stress and coping styles in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism and Down syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(3), 266–280. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01258.x
  11. De Berardis, D., Olivieri, L., Rapini, G., Serroni, N., Fornaro, M., Valchera, A., Carano, A., Vellante, F., Bustini, M., Serafini, G., Pompili, M., Ventriglio, A., Perna, G., Fraticelli, S., Martinotti, G., & Di Giannantonio, M. (2020). Religious coping, hopelessness, and suicide ideation in subjects with first-episode major depression: An exploratory study in the real-world clinical practice. Brain Sciences, 10(12), 912. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10120912
  12. Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
  13. Durak, A. (1994). Validity and reliability study of the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 9(3), 1–11.
  14. Ekas, N. V., Whitman, T. L., & Shivers, C. (2009). Religiosity, spirituality, and socioemotional functioning in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 706–719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0673-4
  15. Ende İnce, Z. E. ve Güdücü Tüfekci, F. (2015). Engelli çocuğu olan ebeveynlerde evlilik uyumu ve yaşam doyumunun değerlendirilmesi ve etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesi. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 4(1), 102–112.
  16. Gören, A. B. (2015). Down Sendromlu çocuğa sahip annelerin destek ihtiyaçlarının ve destek kaynaklarının belirlenmesi. İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(3), 651–673. https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.63671
  17. Güler, G., Bedel, A. ve Çelik, S. (2022). Özel gereksinimli çocuğu olan ebeveynlerde tükenmişlik: Aile stresi, aile yaşam doyumu ve aile işlevselliğinin rolü. Batı Anadolu Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 13(1), 274–292. https://doi.org/10.51460/baebd.1032785
  18. Hastings, R. P. (2002). Parental stress and behaviour problems of children with developmental disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 27, 149–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/1366825021000008657
  19. Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. Guilford Publications.
  20. Karaca, A., & Şener, D. K. (2019). Spirituality as a coping method for mothers of children with developmental disabilities. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 67(2), 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2019.1603730
  21. Kiani, A., Mohammadi, G., HasanZadeh, M., MohsenLoo, F., & PoorRahmani, P. (2022). Comparison of life satisfaction and hoping in mothers of children with special learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and normal. Journal of Family Relations Studies, 2(5), 49–56. https://doi.org/10.22098/jhrs.2022.10720.1055
  22. Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 278730. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730
  23. Konrad, S. C. (2006). Posttraumatic growth in mothers of children with acquired disabilities. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 11(1), 101–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325020500358274
  24. Köker, S. (1991). Normal ve sorunlu ergenlerin yaşam doyumu düzeyinin karşılaştırılması (Thesis No. 16802) [Master’s thesis, Ankara University]. National Thesis Center.
  25. Martins, H., Silva, R. S., Bragança, J., Romeiro, J., & Caldeira, S. (2024). Spiritual distress, hopelessness, and depression in palliative care: Simultaneous concept analysis. Healthcare, 12(10), 960. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12100960
  26. Masulani-Mwale, C., Mathanga, D., Silungwe, D., Kauye, F., & Gladstone, M. (2016). Parenting children with intellectual disabilities in Malawi: The impact that reaches beyond coping? Child: Care, Health and Development, 42(6), 871–880. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12368
  27. Ministry of National Education. (2024, January 23). Özel eğitime ihtiyaç duyanlara verilecek bireysel eğitim desteği aylık 4 bin 692 lira oldu. https://www.meb.gov.tr/ozel-egitime-ihtiyac-duyanlara-verilecek-bireysel-egitim-destegi-aylik-4-bin-692-lira-oldu/haber/32406/tr
  28. Olsson, M. B., & Hwang, C. P. (2001). Depression in mothers and fathers of children with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45(6), 535–543. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2788.2001.00372.x
  29. Öztürk, M., & Küçük Alemdar, D. (2023). The care burden of mothers of children with disability: Association between family quality of life and fatigue. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 73, e418–e425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2023.10.010
  30. Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. Guilford Press.
  31. Pargament, K. I., Smith, B. W., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (1998). Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4), 710–724. https://doi.org/10.2307/1388152
  32. Pargament, K. I., Feuille, M., & Burdzy, D. (2011). The Brief RCOPE: Current psychometric status of a short measure of religious coping. Religions, 2(1), 51–76. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel2010051
  33. Park, C. L. (2005). Religion as a meaning-making framework in coping with life stress. Journal of Social Issues, 61(4), 707–729. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2005.00428.x
  34. Park, C. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning making model: Its components, mechanisms, and boundary conditions. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 257–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018301
  35. Pearce, M., Haynes, K., Rivera, N. R., & Koenig, H. G. (2018). Spiritually integrated cognitive processing therapy: A new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder that targets moral injury. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 7, 2164956118759939. https://doi.org/10.1177/2164956118759939
  36. Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/brm.40.3.879
  37. Scherer, N., Verhey, I., & Kuper, H. (2019). Depression and anxiety in parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0219888. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219888
  38. Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 249–275. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1304_01
  39. Summermatter, A., & Kaya, Ç. (2017). An overview of spiritually oriented cognitive behavioral therapy. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 2, 31–53. https://doi.org/10.12738/spc.2017.1.0017
  40. Şimşek, T. T., Taşçı, M. ve Karabulut, D. (2015). Kronik engelli çocuğu olan ailelerde başka çocuk yapma isteği ve anne-baba birlikteliğine etkisi. Türk Pediatri Arşivi, 50, 163–169. https://doi.org/10.5152TurkPediatriArs.2015.2795
  41. The jamovi project. (2024). jamovi (Version 2.3) [Computer software]. https://www.jamovi.org
  42. Türkoğlu, S., Bilgiç, A., Türkoğlu, G., & Yilmaz, S. (2016). Impact of symptoms of maternal anxiety and depression on quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. Nöropsikiyatri Arşivi, 53(1), 49–54. https://doi.org/10.5152/npa.2015.10132
  43. Wnuk, M. (2024). The mechanisms underlying religious coping and hopelessness: Role of meaning in life and affectivity. Pastoral Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-024-01181-4
  44. Woodman, A. C., Mawdsley, H. P., & Hauser-Cram, P. (2015). Parenting stress and child behavior problems within families of children with developmental disabilities: Transactional relations across 15 years. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 36C, 264–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.10.011
  45. Yaden, D. B., Batz-Barbarich, C. L., Ng, V., Vaziri, H., Gladstone, J. N., Pawelski, J. O., & Tay, L. (2022). A meta-analysis of religion/spirituality and life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23, 4147–4163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00558-7
  46. Yaman, K. G., Sanver Gürsoy, H., Canel, A. N., & Ekşi, H. (2018). Maternal Spiritual Coping Scale: Development and validation. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 3, 9–21. https://doi.org/10.12738/spc.2018.1.0042
  47. Yıldırım, G., Ertekin Pinar, S., Ucuk, S., Duran Aksoy, O., & Ersan, E. E. (2020). The effect of training given to parents with mentally disabled children on their life satisfaction, self-stigma of seeking help, depression and stress-coping styles. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(3), 217–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020903750
  48. Yılmaz, G. (2019). Spiritual orientation, meaning in life, life satisfaction, and well-being in mothers with disabled children. Journal of Religion and Health, 58, 2251–2262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00925-4