Estimation of Stress Level in Mothers with Cerebral Palsy Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To estimate the stress level and to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms in mothers of cerebral palsy (CP) children according to the clinical type and severity. METHODS: Sixty two mothers of CP children and 51 mothers of normal children (control) completed the Daily stress inventory, Schedule of recent life experience, Questionnaire on resources and stress-Friedrich and Symptom checklist-90-revision. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: 1) Rather than the mothers of atonic CP, there were no significant differences in the stress level of every day life and events between mothers of CP children and control. 2) Mothers of CP children showed a higher level of stress related to children, and it was Mothers of statistically significant (p<0.05) quadriplegics and/or severe CP children showed the highest stress level. 3) Mothers of quadriplegic and diplegic types with a moderate disability showed the significantly (p<0.05) high scores in the categories of psychiatric symptoms of somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia and psychoticism, which may need therapeutic intervention. CONCLUSION: It seems to be very important to determine the level of stress and psychiatric symptoms in mothers of CP children for the comprehensive rehabilitation of CP children.