%0 Journal Article
%T Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy
%A Halim Yilmaz
%A Gulten Erkin
%A Alparslan Ali £¿ZK£¿
%J ISRN Rehabilitation
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/914738
%X 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. 1. Introduction 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), however, is a subcomponent of QoL including physical, social, and emotional status of wellbeing. HRQoL is the happiness and satisfaction of individuals in different parts of life influencing or influenced by individuals¡¯ health [1¨C3]. QoL is one of the signs of health. Similar to traditional mortality and morbidity rates, QoL is also among considerable factors essential to be taken into account while individuals¡¯ health status is determined [4]. Seen in brains of those from fetal to early childhood periods with symptoms such as ataxia, spasticity, walking with one foot or leg dragging or on toes, crouched or scissored gait, and muscle tone, cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurologic nonprogressive disorder permanently affecting body movement and muscle coordination and leading to limitations in activities [5]. Functional deficits developing due to physical, cognitive, emotional, and social disorders prevent children with CP from performing their
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.rehabilitation/2013/914738/