A Prediction Model for the Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Nephrotic Syndrom

신증후군 환아 어머니의 삶의 질에 관한 예측모형

The purpose of the study was to develop and test the model for the quality of life in mothers of children with nephrotic syndrome. A hypothetical model was constructed on the basis of previous studies and a review of literature. The conceptual framework was built around ten constructs. Exogenous variables included in this model were mother's health, father's health, marital intimacy, mother's attitude on children, economic state, side effect of steroid, severity of illness and social support. Endogenous variables were mother's burden and quality of life. Empirical data for testing the hypothetical model were collected by using a self-report questionnaire from 152 mothers of children with nephrotic syndrom at the outpatient clinics and in the hospital. The data was collected from May, 1999 to August, 1999.Reliability of the seven instruments was tested with Cronbach's alpha which ranged from 0.71 - 0.92.For the data analysis, SPSS 8.0 WIN program and LISREL 8.20 WIN program were used for descriptive statistics and covariance structural analysis. The results of covariance structural analysis were as follow :1. The hypothetical model showed a good fit with the empirical data. [x2 = .56, df = 3, p = .90(p>.05 ), GFI = .99, AGFI = .99, RMSR = .005.] 2. For the parsimony of model, a modified model was constructed by deleting 1 variable and excluding 2 paths according to the criteria of statistical significance and meaning.3. The modified model also showed a good fit with the data[x2 = 2.83, df = 7, p = .90( p>.05 ), GFI = 1.00, AGFI = .97, RMSR = .011].The result of the testing of the hypothesis were as follows : 1. Mother's health(γ21 = .26, t = 4.16), father's health(γ22 = .19, t = 2.92), marital intimacy(γ23 = .26, t = 4.13) and social support(γ28 = .12, t = 2.03) had a significant direct effect on the quality of life.2. Mother's burden(β21 = -.20, t = -3.10) had a significant negative direct effect on the quality of life.3. Mother's attitude on children(γ14 = -.34, t = .-4.57), mother's health(γ11 = -.22, t = -2.96) and side effect of steroid (γ16 = -.23, t = .-2.69) had a significant direct negative effect on the burden. The result of this study showed that mother's health, marital intimacy, mother's burden, father's health, and social support had a significant direct effect on the quality of life. Mother's attitude on children, mother's health, and side effect of steroid had a significant direct effect on mother's burden. These six variables, mother's health, marital intimacy, father's health, social support, mother's attitude on children and side effect of steroid were identified as relatively important variables. The results of this study suggest, it needed to determine the nursing intervention will alleviate mother's burden and promote a greater quality of life in mothers of children with nephrotic syndrom.