Effect of a Social Support Program for Mothers of Children with Precocious Puberty: A Preliminary Quasi-Experimental Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a social support program on the stress, anxiety, guilt, and life satisfaction levels among Korean mothers of children with precocious puberty. A non-equivalent control group and a non-synchronized design were used in this quasi-experiment study. Thirty-four mothers (divided into equal-sized experimental and control groups), 32–47 years of age, with children aged 6–11 years old, were recruited from a pediatric outpatient department at a national university hospital. The experimental group was involved in four sessions of a 4-week social support program. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to evaluate group differences. The program significantly reduced mothers' stress and guilt and significantly increased their life satisfaction. No significant differences in changes in anxiety were reported between the groups. This study confirms that the social support program was a useful nursing intervention for Korean mothers of children with precocious puberty, which can be extensively applied to help mothers in similar situations. The preliminary study findings may inform healthcare professionals to develop effective interventions to promote psychosocial well-being of mothers of children with precocious puberty through strengthening their social support and to further improve the quality of life of children with precocious puberty and their families. •Social support can reduce stress of mothers of children with precocious puberty.•Social support can help relieve guilt and improve life satisfaction for mothers.•Strengthening social support for mothers of children with precocious puberty is needed.