The Mediating Role of Maternal Resilience in the Relationship Between Internalized Sexism and Couple Burnout in Mothers of Children with Disabilities

The purpose of this study is to examine whether mother resilience has a mediating effect on the relationship between internalized sexism and couple burnout. The research participants of this study consist of 150 mothers whose children attended special education and rehabilitation centers in the central districts of Samsun, Konya, and Van in Turkey and who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Inventories included the Couple Burnout Scale Short Form, Internalized Sexism Scale, Mother Resilience Scale, and Personal Information Form. The package program and Process Macro for SPSS were used in the analysis of the data. The research findings showed that there were positive and significant relationships between the variables of internalized sexism, couple burnout, and mother resilience. According to the findings obtained from the mediation analysis, mother resilience mediates the relationship between internalized sexism and couple burnout, and the model tested in the study explains approximately 21.3% of the total variance in couple burnout. In line with the results of the research, counselors should focus on strengthening efforts to increase resilience based on gender equality in psychological interventions for mothers of children with disabilities.