Psychological capital, quality of life, and well-being in mother caregivers of individuals with down syndrome

Alina Chiracu; Germina-Alina Cosma; Amalia Raluca Stepan; Marian Alexandru Cosma; Ionuț Corlaci; Eleonora Daniela Ciupeanu Călugăru; Florin Voinea; Mihaela Zăvăleanu; Horia Alin Burileanu; Taina Avramescu

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1145104

Psychological capital, quality of life, and well-being in mother caregivers of individuals with down syndrome

Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 21:14:1145104. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1145104. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
² Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania.
³ Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, National University of Physical Education and Sports, Bucharest, Romania.
⁴ Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Ovidius University of Constanța, Constanța, Romania.

Abstract

Introduction: Caused by an error in cell division that produces an additional chromosome 21, Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common developmental disorders in the world. This study aims to analyze the relationship between psychological capital, quality of life and well-being of caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome (DS).

Methods: The participants were 98 caregivers (mothers, M = 52.13, SD = 11.39) of individuals with Down syndrome. The instruments used were the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (measuring self-efficacy, resilience, optimism, and hope), Quality of Life Questionnaire (including social support, general satisfaction, physical/psychological health, absence of excessive workload/free time), and Psychological Wellbeing Scale, investigating the following dimensions: self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth.

Results: The mediation analysis showed that self-efficacy, hope, and resilience are positively associated to quality of life, and optimism is positively associated to well-being. The total effects of psychological capital on well-being are positive and significant and quality of life mediates the relationship between psychological capital and well-being.

Discussion: These results show that psychological capital is an important inner resource for caregivers of DS individuals and must be improved through support services, so that caregivers have a higher perception of the quality of life and implicitly of well-being.

Keywords: caregivers; down syndrome; psychological capital; quality of life; well-being.