Personality Dimensions, Religious Tendencies and Coping Strategies as Predictors of General Health in Iranian Mothers of Children With Intellectual Disability: A Comparison With Mothers of Typically Developing Children

Background Challenges related to rearing children with intellectual disability (ID) may cause mothers of these children to have mental health status problems. Method A total of 124 mothers who had a child with ID and 124 mothers of typically developing children were selected using random sampling. Data were collected using General health questionnaire, NEO five‐factor inventory, islamic religiosity scale and WOCQ questionnaires. Results Mothers of children with ID had lower general health than mothers of typically developing children. Neuroticism predicted the general health of the two groups of mothers. Among religious tendencies, religiosity and religious disorganization predicted the general health of mothers of children with ID and of mothers of typically developing children, respectively. Coping strategies did not predict general health in any group of mothers. Conclusions Compared to personality dimensions and coping strategies, religiosity seems to be a good predictor of general health of mothers with children with ID in Iran.