Comparing Relational Coping Strategies Between Mothers Suffering MS, RA, LBP and Well Mothers

Chronic pain makes parenting more difficult as mothers with chronic illnesses such as LBP, RA or MS have to manage pain and disability of chronic illness and parenting simultaneously. Therefore coping has an important role to reduce the tension of chronic illness and to improve parenting in mothers with chronic pain and main goal of present study is comparing relational coping strategies in mothers with LBP, MS, RA, and control group. Sample size is consisted of 67 patients with LBP, 50 patients with RA, 32 patients with MS, and 32 non-patients. All mothers participated in semi-structured interview of relational coping strategies Results demonstrated that there is a significant difference between four groups in relational coping strategies of self-care, engaging the child, requesting assistance from others (social support), self-preservation parenting and distraction. Results indicated that mothers with RA, MS and LBP utilized self-care, requesting social support, self-preservation parenting and distraction more than control group. Non-patient mothers engaged their children in activities more than patient groups. Results are consistent with previous research that mothers in chronic pain use pain management copings more frequently and reduce their parenting activities.