Comparison of musculoskeletal pain distribution, quality of life and hopelessness level in mothers with disabled children in different ambulation levels.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the musculoskeletal pain distribution, quality of life, and the hopelessness level in mothers with disabled children in different ambulation levels.

METHODS: This study included a total of 177 mothers (mean age: 36.1 ± 6.5 years) of children with disabilities. The mothers were divided into 3 different groups according to the ambulation level of their disabled children: Ambulatory children (Group 1), partially ambulatory children (Group 2) and non-ambulatory children (Group 3). Musculoskeletal pain distribution (body diagram) and pain intensity (The Visual Analogue Scale), four quality of life parameters (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health-Related Quality of Life -4 Questionnaire) and hopelessness level (Beck Hopelessness Scale) were evaluated in all mothers.

RESULTS: The results of our study showed that musculoskeletal pain was most common (79.1%) in the mothers of disabled children. The frequency and severity of back, shoulder and elbow pain in the mothers, number of activity limitation days and hopelessness level were found to increase significantly as the ambulation level in the child decreased (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The risk of musculoskeletal pain, participation in daily life and hopelessness level in the mothers increased as the ambulation level of the disabled children decreased.