Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy 1

Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers Of Children With Cerebral Palsy
Bridgett Hutchinson
Edgecombe Community College
March 29, 2014
Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy 2

Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers Of Children With Cerebral Palsy
This study was designed to compare mental health and marital adaptation between mothers'
with children of cerebral palsy (CP) to mothers with children without physical disabilities.
Comparing the difference between the two groups, self-esteem, self-mastery, and family network
size was examined in mothers of children with CP to see how these factors contributed to the
mother's physical and mental adaptation. Self-esteem: The overall positive or negative
attitude one hold toward oneself, and refers to feelings of self- worth self-respect and self-
acceptance. Self- mastery A sense of personal control over life events and refers to confidence
in one's ability to influence or determine the forces affecting one's life, (Florian and Finder,
2001, pg. 358-359).
The following three hypothesis were examined: 1) Comparing the control-group which is
mothers, mothers of children with CP (cerebral palsy) have been reported to have a high level of
stress like events, lower levels of self-esteem, self-mastery, social support mental to health and
marital adaptation. 2) Lower levels of stressful life events and higher level of self-esteem: Self-
mastery: and the and social support will contribute positively to mental health among mothers
with CP. 3) Lower levels of stressful life events and higher levels of self-esteem, self-mastery,
and self-support will contribute positively with marital adaptation among mothers of children
with CP. There were more stressful life events that were associated with poor mental health and
marital adaptation. Their families and friends network size associated with mental health and
marital adaptation were reported to be positive. Mothers who were employed full-time reported
better health status and higher scores on mental health.
The study consisted of a total of 160 Jewish mothers living in Israel, 80 mothers of children
with cerebral palsy, and 80 control-group of mothers of children without physical
Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy 3

disabilities. The mothers age, level of education, employment, health, number of children, and
economic status were considered. The research was on children between the ages of three and
seven years old, with a normal IQ range. The reason for this age group was based on the
assumption that at least two years had passed since their diagnosis. This time would have an
impact on the mothers emotional and physical state. Another factor was these children were not
yet of school age. The study was to examine whether the mothers of children with CP experience
more stressful life events that could weaken their level of adaptation compared a control group of
mothers of without CP.
Research was conducted by eight graduate students in psychology and social work. These
graduate students conducted in-home interviews to mothers with children of CP, and mothers
who needed assistance completing the questionnaire. With the control group the mothers
interviews were conducted via telephone, by the same interviewers. Each interview was
approximately hour and a half long. This study was conducted for over one year. The
questionnaire was 46 questions in six different categories using the Likert type scale:
1. Stressful life event
2. Self-esteem
3. Self-mastery
4. Social support
5. Psychological adaptation
6. Familial and marital adaptation

Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy 4

Studies show among the control group, mothers of children with CP had a higher level of
stressful life events. In separately examining the six areas of stressful life events show significant
difference only in financial stress and medical stress, in mothers with children of CP reported a
greater number in both of these areas. Research shows that mothers with children of CP had a
lower sense of self-mastery, and had a few members and their friend network, but they had a
large number of professionals in their network size. Mothers reported having more difficulty in
egalitarian relationships: sharing household activities, and leisure activities and spending time
together as a couple.
Raising a child with a physical disability can be very challenging for parents. It requires an
effort on the entire family, particularly for the mother. The mother of a child with CP has to cope
with demands and stress that are related to all the child's needs. The stress is trying to fulfill the
child's physical needs, as well as, the stress of trying to deal with economic and financial needs,
and trying to balance the needs of other family members. Many mothers of children with
physical disabilities also deal with isolation and embarrassment, but one of their main focuses is
a family network size and support group.
Children with CP expose mothers to many physical, psychological and social demands.
Potential effects on the demands of the mothers long time mental health and marital adaptation,
Although, the stressful life events reported by mothers of children with CP was much greater
then reported by control-group mothers, and the mother's mental health and marital satisfaction
were lower among the CP group than among the control-group mothers. The mothers of children
with physical disabilities feel more self-worth and hold a positive attitude about herself
regardless of her exposure to stressful changes in her life circumstances.

Mental Health and Marital Adaptation Among Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy 5

References
Florian, V., & Findler, L. (2001). Mental health and martial adaptation among mothers of
children with cerebral palsy. American Journal of Othopsychiatry,71(3), 358-367.