Psychological Correlates of Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that is likely to have longstanding implications for the functioning of children and adolescents. For example, children and adolescents diagnosed with CP have to cope with psychological, social, and physical consequences related to having such a condition. Advancements in treatment for CP have increased focus on the psychosocial functioning of the parents and children, with quality of life becoming an important area of interest. As a result, this study examined the relationships among the quality of life in children and adolescents with CP, the psychological symptoms and parenting characteristics of their parents, and the emotional and behavioral functioning of these children and adolescents. Twenty-one mothers, six fathers, and one grandfather, all of whom were serving as caregivers of children with CP, completed measures about their own psychological functioning and parenting characteristics, as well as measures about their children's functioning and quality of life. Results of this study suggested that parental stress and depression were strong predictors of quality of life. High stress scores correlated with high depression scores in these parents. The importance of examining the psychological characteristics of parents when assessing the quality of life of children and adolescents with CP is discussed.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2006

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Renk, Kimberly

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Program

Psychology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences; Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic; Cerebral palsied; Cerebral palsied children -- Family relationships; Cerebral palsy -- Psychological aspects; Quality of life

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0022119

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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