The mediating role of life satisfaction in the effect of caregiving burden on mental well-being in parents of children diagnosed with cleft lip/palate

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effect of caregiving burden on the mental well-being of parents of children with cleft lip/palate, with life satisfaction as a mediator.

Design and methods

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 347 parents of children with cleft lip/palate. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the parents between March 18 and September 4, 2023. The data collection tools included a sociodemographic data form, the Zarit Burden Interview, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Results

It was found that parents with a higher caregiving burden had lower levels of life satisfaction. Additionally, parents with higher life satisfaction reported better mental well-being. The findings indicated that as the caregiving burden increased, the mental well-being of the parents decreased. The results suggest that life satisfaction mitigates the negative impact of caregiving burden on mental well-being.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that life satisfaction plays a significant mediating role in maintaining and supporting parents' mental health. Parents with higher life satisfaction appear to cope better with the challenges posed by caregiving burden, which in turn helps them maintain better mental well-being.

Practice implications

The findings show that as the caregiving burden increases, both life satisfaction and mental well-being decrease. Therefore, it is crucial to develop practical interventions to support these parents.