The Effect of Social Support on Life Satisfaction in Mothers of Children With Intellectual Disabilities: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience and Burnout

This study explores how perceived social support influences life satisfaction in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities, with psychological resilience and parental burnout examined as mediating variables. Data were collected from 238 mothers across 26 provinces in Turkey using validated scales for life satisfaction, social support, resilience, and burnout. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analyses revealed that perceived social support directly increased life satisfaction and indirectly influenced it by enhancing resilience and reducing burnout. The findings support the stress process model, suggesting that social support buffers stress-related outcomes. These results underscore the importance of bolstering social support systems and resilience-building programs to enhance the well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities.