factors related to behavioral functioning in mothers of children with type 1 diabetes: application of transactional model of stress and coping

Background: having a child with diabetes creates a great deal of stress for mothers. the transactional model of stress and coping is one of the best conceptual frameworks for stressors. objectives: this study aimed to investigate factors related to health promoting behaviors based on transactional model in mothers of children with type 1 diabetes. methods: this study was conducted on 180 mothers of children with type 1 diabetes. the data was collected using a multi-sectional questionnaire including demographic characteristics and questions about the model constructs. data were analyzed by spss software (version 19) and using statistical tests. results: the highest mean score was related to interpersonal relationships (13.8 ± 4.5) and the lowest was related to stress management (10.8 ± 4.2). linear regression model showed that mother’s education, information seeking, and social support had a positive effect, and primary appraisal and emotion-focused coping had a negative effect on the mother’s health promotion behaviors. in the regression model r-square accounts for 53.7% of the variance. conclusions: the transactional model was an appropriate framework for explaining the coping outcomes in mothers of children with type 1 diabetes. by mothers’ attempts to improve attitude about diabetes and reduce their vulnerability, training to use coping strategies, increasing information and inter-sectoral interventions for attracting sufficient support from patients’ families can be hopeful in improving mothers’ behavioral functioning.