Factors influencing fatigue among mothers with hospitalized children: A structural equation model. Issue 1 (16th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Shin Jeong; Kim, Hye Young; Park, Young Ae; Kim, Sung Hee; Yoo, So Young; Lee, Jung Eun; Moon, Sun Young
• Is Part Of: Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing. Volume 22:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-01-16
• Subjects: anxiety -- child -- fatigue -- hospitalized -- mothers -- pediatric nursing; Pediatric nursing -- Periodicals; Evidence-based nursing -- Periodicals; Evidence-based pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1111/jspn.12171
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-0136

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the physiological, psychological, and situational factors affecting fatigue among mothers of hospitalized children. Design and Methods: This study used a cross‐sectional descriptive design with a self‐report questionnaire. Participants were 211 mothers with children younger than 6 years old who were admitted to general hospitals. Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms, the physiological, psychological, and situational factors were tested using structural equation modeling. Results: Mothers' fatigue was influenced by physiological ( β = .24), situational, and psychological factors ( β = .17), and situational ( β = .37) factors such as the mother's sleeping hours, the child's adaptation to hospitalization, anxiety and having support with their housework. These three factors explained 31.34% of the variance in fatigue. In particular, it was found that the psychological factors exacerbate the negative influence of the situational factors on fatigue. Moreover, the situational factors were most strongly related to mothers' fatigue, and they had an indirect effect via the psychological factors as a mediator. Practice Implications: It is necessary to implement a nursing intervention that targets the controllable factors such as anxiety and children's adaptation to hospitalization that were identified in this study. Pediatric nursing care should not be limited to treating children's illnesses, but should be extended to providing family‐centered care.