Investigating the Predictive Factors of Life Balance in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Leyla Bastami; Seifolah  Jahantabi-Nejad; Roya Ghasemzadeh; Maimanat Akbari; Maryam Dastoorpour

doi:10.18502/jmr.v18i1.14732

Leyla Bastami Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Seifolah Jahantabi-Nejad Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Roya Ghasemzadeh Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Maimanat Akbari Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Maryam Dastoorpour Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, School of Heath, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v18i1.14732

Keywords: Predictive factor; Life balance; Cerebral palsy; Mothers

Abstract

Introduction: Having a child with cerebral palsy (CP) is a stressful experience for the family, particularly mothers. Caring for these children occupies great time and energy from the family. The balance of life may be decreased by the influence of factors related to the child or mother. Accordingly, this study investigates the predictive factors affecting the life balance of mothers with CP

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical research was conducted in Ahvaz City, Iran, in 2021. A total of 135 mothers (mean age=33.37 [7.93]) with at least one child under the age of ten suffering from CP participated in this research. The data were collected using the life-balance index, general health questionnaire, time management quality, and demographic information checklists. The gross motor function classification system was expanded and revised, and the manual ability classification system was used to determine the gross motor and manual ability function levels. Generalized univariate linear models were used to investigate the effects of predictor variables on the quantity of life balance.

Results: The life balance of mothers of children with CP was heavily unbalanced (45.2%) or unbalanced (35.6%). Based on the regression coefficient of each variable, it was determined that manual ability classification system (β=0.192), comorbidity in the children with CP (β=0.187), gross motor function (β=0.137), general health (β=0.024), and maternal age (β=0.01), respectively, contributed the most in the prediction of life balance variances.

Conclusion: Life balance is a seriously affected domain in mothers caring for CP children. Child-related factors had a more effective role in predicting the life balance of mothers of CP children than mother-related factors