Abstract
Objective. To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to determine factors into HRQoL.Materials and Method. Participants comprised 137 mothers of children with spastic-type CP, and controls comprised 140 mothers with healthy children. Functional levels of children with CP were evaluated using Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMCFS). HRQoL of mothers with CP children and control groups was assessed with 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and depression levels with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).Results. Social function, mental health, role limitation emotional, and vitality as subscale of mental component of SF-36 were found to be lower in CP children’s mothers than controls. BDI scores were higher in CP children’s mothers than controls. Among mothers with CP children, a negative correlation was detected between BDI scores and all subscale scores of SF-36 and age rate of mothers and physical function, bodily pain, and physical component scale scores, among subscales of SF-36.Conclusion. Our study indicates that HRQoL is impaired in CP children’s mothers, and depression is a significant symptom affecting HRQoL of mothers with CP children. Therefore, to increase HRQoL, mothers of children with CP should be motivated to join social activities related to their interests, and mothers with depressive symptoms should be psychologically supported.
Highlights
Quality of life (QoL) has been described as an individual’s perception of own his/her status in life as to cultural features and value system
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, were statistically and significantly higher in mothers with cerebral palsy (CP) children than controls (P < 0.001). When those with BDI ≥17 were evaluated in favour of depression in mothers with CP children, all subscale scores of SF-36, mental component scale, and physical component scale scores were found to be lower in depressive mothers with CP children than those without (Table 3)
While Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of mothers is reported to be associated with depression [4, 16, 18, 19], anxiety [19], educational status [9, 19, 20], and functional levels [9], others assert that no correlation is present between HRQoL of mothers and functional levels of CP children [4]
Summary
Quality of life (QoL) has been described as an individual’s perception of own his/her status in life as to cultural features and value system. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), is a subcomponent of QoL including physical, social, and emotional status of wellbeing. Similar to traditional mortality and morbidity rates, QoL is among considerable factors essential to be taken into account while individuals’ health status is determined [4]. Functional deficits developing due to physical, cognitive, emotional, and social disorders prevent children with CP from performing their roles in society [6, 7]. Families of children with CP fail to be into the children and themselves because of children’s continuous requirements for special care, frequent medical checkups, and continuous physiotherapy treatment modalities and to take over their roles in society. HRQoL of family members undertaking medical care of children with CP is influenced negatively [4, 8, 9].
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