Assessment of Anxiety and Depression in Polish Primary Parental Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy Compared to a Control Group, as well as Identification of Selected Predictors

Barbara Gugała, Beata Penar-Zadarko, Danuta Pięciak-Kotlarz, Katarzyna Wardak, Aneta Lewicka-Chomont, Magdalena Futyma-Ziaja and Józef Opara
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Barbara Gugała: Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Beata Penar-Zadarko: Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Danuta Pięciak-Kotlarz: Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Katarzyna Wardak: Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Aneta Lewicka-Chomont: Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Magdalena Futyma-Ziaja: Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Józef Opara: Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 40-065 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Taking care of a child with Cerebral Palsy (CP) may be linked with adverse effects in the parents’ physical and mental health. The causes of anxiety and depression symptoms associated with childcare are still not fully understood. Aim: To assess the intensity of anxiety and depression symptoms in parents of children with CP compared to a control group and to identify selected mental health predictors. Design and Methods: Data were collected from 301 respondents, including 190 parents of children with CP (study group) and 111 parents taking care of children developing normally (control group). Intensity of anxiety and depression was rated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scale. Gross Motor Function Classification System for Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Berlin Support Social Scales (BSSS) scales and a specially designed questionnaire were used to assess the predictors. The investigated variables included the children’s and the parents’ characteristics, as well as environmental factors. The analyses applied Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, M(SD) as well as multiple regression. Results: The level of anxiety and depression was clearly higher in the parents of children with CP–the mean levels of anxiety and depression in the study group and the controls amounted to 8.1 vs. 4.7 and 6.8 vs. 3.7, respectively. The factors associated with intensity of anxiety and depression in the parents of children with CP included lack of social support, mainly perceived and received support, unsatisfying parental health status, poor economic status of the family, as well as difficult living conditions, sense of coherence, loneliness, the parent’s gender, and the child’s intellectual disability. Conclusions: Identification of significant anxiety and depression predictors, understood as modifiable factors, should be considered in determining and planning comprehensive support for a child with CP and his/her primary parental caregiver.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; determinants; parents of children with cerebral palsy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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