Study on family adaptability and cohesion in cerebral palsy children

Abstract

Objective To explore the family adaptability and cohesion in cerebral palsy children. Methods A total of 225 children were selected in two hospitals of Anhui province from May to November in 2014. Their parents or family primary caregivers were interviewed using Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, Second Edition-Chinese version (FACESII-CV) and self-designed general information questionnaire. Results The actual family types of 225 cerebral palsy children families were: 102 cases of intermediate type (45.3%), 76 cases of extreme type (33.8%), 47 cases of balance type (20.9%), while the ideal family types were: 92 cases of intermediate type (40.9%), 62 cases of extreme type (27.6%), 71 cases of balance type (31.5%), it was significant between the actual and the ideal family types (χ2=6.817,P<0.05). The actual and ideal scores of family adaptability and cohesion scale were (64.09±12.23) points, (43.28±9.91) points and (73.91±9.31) points, (52.73±7.16) points, respectively, the difference was significant (t=-9.049, -10.976,P<0.01). The scores in the family which the mother had a higher culture degree (F=7.075, 8.499,P<0.01), the cerebral palsy children did not live with grandparents (t=5.925, 4.138,P<0.05), the one-child family (t=5.370, 4.652,P<0.05) were higher. Conclusions The relationship between family members are estranged in most cerebral palsy children families, the ability of family coping with stuff is low and the family function is poor, in addition, the family adaptability and cohesion are mainly affected by the mother's culture degree, whether live with grandparents, the number of children. All above these are need to be intervented early to improve family function. Key words: Cerebral palsy; Family function; Cross-sectional studies