Psychosocial changes, health and quality of life of parents of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movements and postures, accompanied by other dysfunctions that limit the development of daily life activities; in children, this condition demands special care and upbringing to be provided by the parents. As a result, the latter experience a series of changes and needs in their personal, family, work and social spheres, from the moment they receive the clinical diagnosis and throughout the child’s whole developmental process. As a result, parents frequently present symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disturbances and musculoskeletal disorders, generating a low quality of life level. Several studies show that psychosocial changes, health and quality of life of parents are affected by the child’s characteristics, the parents’ personal traits and / or the family’s environmental and contextual factors. It is suggested that the health systems must also assist the parents in parallel with the treatment of children with cerebral palsy, and according to the context in which they occur.