Personality traits and quality of life of mothers who have children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: The quality of life (QOL) of mothers who have children with cerebral palsy (CP) is significantly worse than in mothers with typically developing children. In available literature we have not found an approach which analyzes the correlation of mothers' personality traits with their QOL and health related quality of life (HrQOL).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 101 mothers of children with CP, aged 4 to 18 years. Mothers' personalities have been assessed by Eysenck EPQ - R questionnaire that determines three personality traits: neuroticism/emotional stability, extroversion/introversion and psychoticism. Maternal HrQOL was assessed by SF-36 questionnaire, Short Form, and their emotional well-being by WHO 5 well-being index. In addition, the influence of mothers' religiosity was also analyzed, using DUREL Religiosity Questionnaire. Motor assessment of children was performed using Gross Motor Function Classification System. The control group consisted of mothers of typically developing children of the same age.

RESULTS: Participants with high levels of extraversion had better QOL and HrQOL, as opposed to those with high levels of neuroticism and psychoticism, who had worse physical and mental health. The degree of children's motor impairment and mothers' religiosity did not influence QOL. Regression analysis distinguishes the following predictors for better mothers' QOL: better their mental health, greater level of their vitality, extroversion, living with a partner, a lesser degree of children's motor impairment and better their QOL.

CONCLUSIONS: It is vital to identify the factors that affect QOL of a mother and a child with CP. We consider it justified to regularly conduct mothers' professional monitoring and treatment simultaneously with children's treatment and we propose the protocol for the individual and targeted approach.