Primary objective: This study examined the mediating role of perceived social support and mastery on quality of life (QOL) among adults with brain injury.
Research design: An a priori structural model hypothesizing the relationships among symptom severity, mastery, social support, and QOL variables were tested.
Methods and procedures: Individuals with brain injury across the United States participated in an online survey (N = 183). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the model fit.
Main outcomes and results: The model fit the data well (χ2(15) = 13.68). The Normed Bentler-Bonnet Fit Index (NFI) was.97; Goodness-of-Fit Statistic (GFI) was .98; Adjusted-Goodness-of-Fit (AGFI) was.96; and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) was 1.00. The direct effects supported all expected relationships among the study variables. Social support and mastery fully mediated the relationship between symptom severity and QOL. Mastery partially mediated the relationship between social support and QOL.
Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of incorporating psychosocial factors into interventions, with attention on increasing levels of perceived social support and mastery skills to foster greater QOL.
Keywords: SEM; mastery; quality of life; self-efficacy; social support.