Abstract
AimWe explored the quality of life of adults with cerebral palsy without an intellectual disability and the predictors of quality of life.BackgroundBecause cerebral palsy is a disease that manifests in childhood, much of the research into quality of life for those dealing with it focuses on children; there are few studies that evaluate the quality of life of adults with cerebral palsy. Therefore, it is important to consider their perceptions in order to improve their general wellbeing and self-determination.DesignThis was a descriptive, cross-sectional study.MethodQuality of life was measured using the GENCAT Quality of Life Scale. Demographic and personal variables were also collected and examined. Participants comprised 75 adults (58.7 percent men, mean age = 40.84 years) with cerebral palsy who were members of the National Cerebral Palsy Association of Spain between 2014 and 2015. A linear multivariate model was examined as well.ResultsThe overall mean score indicator of participants’ quality of life was 103.29, which corresponds to the 56.6th percentile on the GENCAT scale. Examining the level of qualification, we found significant differences in the factors “personal development” and “self-determination,” and those with a university education obtained higher scores than their less-educated counterparts. Having a partner was related to higher quality of life standard scores. After constructing a linear model, it was observed that maintaining sexual relationships was another factor that increased participants’ quality of life.ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of social and romantic relationships to achieve a better quality of life in adults with cerebral palsy who do not have an intellectual disability. Social integration and sexuality education programs should be developed to improve their quality of life.
Highlights
The concept of cerebral palsy (CP) has evolved over time [1,2,3]; it is currently defined as “a group of disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain
We explored the quality of life of adults with cerebral palsy without an intellectual disability and the predictors of quality of life
Because cerebral palsy is a disease that manifests in childhood, much of the research into quality of life for those dealing with it focuses on children; there are few studies that evaluate the quality of life of adults with cerebral palsy
Summary
The concept of cerebral palsy (CP) has evolved over time [1,2,3]; it is currently defined as “a group of disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, cognition, communication, perception, and/or behavior, and/or by a seizure disorder” [4]. The evolution of this concept has played a critical role in changing the disability paradigm, which has developed from a “deficit theory” to a “biopsychosocial conception,” supported by cultural importance and the participation of disabled people [5]. The proportion of school-aged children in the United States diagnosed with CP is 3–4 per 1,000 people This disorder affects more than 17 million people in the world and 25 percent of the affected children will never be able to walk. Editor: Karen Lidzba, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, GERMANY Received: June 25, 2017 Accepted: January 15, 2018 Published: February 5, 2018
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