Burden and Social Support of Mothers with Cerebral Palsy Children

Kim, Eun Sook; Kim, Hee Soon

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the level of burden and social support of mothers with Cerebral Palsy (CP) children, and to determine whether providing social support is an effective strategy to relieve the burden of those mothers. METHOD: From October to November 2007, the data were collected from 63 mothers with CP children who were admitted and treated for CP at Y rehabilitation center in Seoul. The data were analyzed with t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise Multiple Regression using SPSS 12.0.
RESULTS
Burden of mothers was related to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) of the CP children. Social support was negatively correlated and GMFCS was positively correlated with burden of mothers. Social support and GMFCS was statistically significantly related with burden of mothers with CP children by multiple regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
There was a significantly negative correlation between social support and burden. It demonstrated that social support, an important factor relating to burden imposed on mothers of CP children, can be considered as an intervening variable which can contribute to decrease of burden. In addition, applying developmental screening measures are needed to decrease disability severity.