Investigation of quality of life in mothers of children withcerebral palsy in Iran: association with socio-economic status,marital satisfaction and fatigue.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare the quality of life (QOL) of Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy (MCCPs) with mothers of Typically Developing (TD) children as a Control Group (CG). The association of the mediating variables including socio-economic status (SES), marital satisfaction and fatigue with maternal QOL was also evaluated.


METHODS
The MCCPs group consisted of 120 mothers (mean age: 30.3 ± 5.5 years) of children with CP. The CG included 100 mothers (mean age: 29.9 ± 4.5 years) of TD children. Demographic characteristics of the participants were recorded and the data was collected by World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), SES Questionnaire, Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) and Fatigue Severity Scale-Persian (FSS-P). Data analysis was done by SPSS version 16.0.


RESULTS
The QOL and SES were lower, while FSS-P and IMS were higher in MCCPs group than CG (p < 0.001). The SES, IMS and FSS-P associated with all domains of QOL in MCCPs group, while they did just with some domains of QOL in CG (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The lower QOL in MCCPs group is supposed to be mediated by the SES, marital satisfaction and fatigue so, maternal empowerment in terms of these mediators and family-centered approach are recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
• Improper activity of trapezius muscle motor units can be a reason of the cervicogenic headache. • Increased muscle tension at rest can lead to decrease of its contractile properties. • Rehabilitation of patients is effective when includes first postisometric relaxation procedures and myofascial mobilization of trigger points, then head protraction and retraction exercises according to McKenzie therapy and finally muscles strengthening exercises supplemented with self-control of the correct body posture.
Occupational Therapy Department, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. mahany2002@yahoo.com
Mohammad Mahani
MM
Khayatzadeh
Hamid Reza
HR
Rostami
Susan
S
Amirsalari
Masood
M
Karimloo
D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires