Anxiety levels and health-related quality of life in parents of children with different types of physical disabilities

Abstract

IntroductionDisability has negative effects on families’ psychological health and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the anxiety level and quality of life of parents having children with different physical disabilities, such as spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, and compare them with those of healthy children’s parents.MethodsHealth status and anxiety level of the parents were assessed by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and STAI-II). The impact on the parents and level of the children’s functional independence were evaluated by the Turkish version of the Impact on Family Scale (IPFAM) and Functional Independence Measure for Children. Functional activities of the children were assessed by the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI).ResultsA statistically significant difference was found between the control group and the parents having children with disabilities in terms of IPFAM and PEDI functional skills (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the IPFAM total scores of the disabled children and their healthy peers (<i>p</i> < 0.001).ConclusionsThe impact on the families with physically disabled children did not change with the diagnosis type. A difference was observed between the parents of children with different physical disabilities and those of healthy children. Also, the functional skills of the children with disabilities were negatively affected compared with their healthy peers. Health-related quality of life of the families was influenced by the independence level of the children in daily living activities.