Structural equation modeling of the relationship between emotional conflict and criticism in the family with self-silence in mothers with intellectual disabled children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional conflict and criticism in the family with self-silence in mothers of children with intellectual disability. A descriptive correlational study design using structural equation modeling was conducted. The statistical population of the study included all mothers with intellectually disabled children who supported by the welfare organization of Farsan City, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province which were approximately 850 mothers. A total of 200 mothers were selected using convenience sampling method. The research tools included the family emotional involvement and criticism scale (FEICS) and the self-silence scale (STSS) and the data were analyzed using structural equation analysis in AMOS software. The findings showed that there was a direct, positive and significant relationship between criticism in the family and emotional conflict. In addition, there was a direct, positive and meaningful relationship between emotional conflict and criticism in the family. Also, emotional conflict had a mediating role in the relationship between criticism in the family and self-silence (p<.01). The results indicated that as the criticism in the family increases, the emotional conflict in family with intellectually disabled children increases. In addition, as the emotional conflict and criticism in the family increases, self-silencing in mothers increased, and criticism in the family through emotional conflict leads to self-silence in the mother of children with intellectual disability.