Predictors of life satisfaction in fathers of children with cerebral palsy

Turhan, Atahan; Aslan, Menşure; Karaçay, Başak Çiğdem

doi:10.1590/1984-0462/2025/43/2025001

home Sumário navigate_before Anterior Atual Seguinte navigate_next

home Sumário

ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Rev. paul. pediatr. 43 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/2025/43/2025001 linkcopy

Predictors of life satisfaction in fathers of children with cerebral palsy

Preditores da satisfação com a vida em pais de crianças com paralisia cerebral

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of life satisfaction among fathers of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: A total of 122 children diagnosed with CP and their fathers were included in the study. Sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics of the children with CP and their fathers were recorded in the Personal Information Form. The life satisfaction level of the fathers was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The Gross Motor Function Classification System was used to assess the motor function in children with CP.

Results: The results of the study showed that fathers’ SWLS score was significantly correlated with time to diagnosis of child (TDC) with CP (r=-0.394), the number of siblings (NSC) (r=-0.213), and children’s motor function level (r=-0.270) (p<0.05). According to the results of multiple regression analysis, children’s motor function level, NSC, and TDC were found to be independent and significant predictors of SWLS, explaining 20% of the variance (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Fathers’ life satisfaction was significantly affected in families with children with CP. In addition, children’s motor function level, NSC, and TDC were found to be determinants of fathers’ life satisfaction.

Keywords:
Caregivers; Cerebral palsy; Life satisfaction; Motor function

Variables (fathers)		Mean±SD	Min–Max
Age (years)		41.44±11.15	20–64
Height (cm)		177.52±7.19	160–192
Weight (kg)		78.50±8.86	60–100
BMI (kg/m²)		25.13±3.72	17.09–33.21
Duration of working life (years)		23.46±12.07	3–37
Monthly income (TL)		21899.20±10187.71	8600–60,000
Total family income (TL)		40450.16±16062.32	8600–95,000
Number of people living at home		4.10±0.95	3–8
Satisfaction with Life Scale		13.90±3.13	5–23
Variables (children)		Mean±SD	Min–Max
Age (years)		6.50±4.68	1–18
Height (cm)		121.15±25.78	70–166
Weight (kg)		29.47±14.01	9–68
Time to diagnosis of child (years)		3.63±1.57	1–7
Number of siblings of the child		2.20±1.60	0–8
Duration of child’s physical therapy (years)		5.09±4.17	1–15
		n	%
Gender
	Male	64	52.5
	Female	58	47.5
RCAS
	No siblings	22	18.0
	First	52	42.6
	Second	37	30.3
	Third	9	7.4
	Fourth and more	2	1.6

Variables	The satisfaction with life scale
Father’s age	0.043*
Father’s height	0.144*
Father’s weight	0.115*
Duration of father’s working life	0.089*
Father’s monthly income	-0.090*
Total family income	-0.128*
Number of people living at home	0.025*
Father’s education level	-0.018†
Father’s occupation	-0.079‡
Age of the child	-0.028*
Child’s height	-0.136*
Child’s weight	-0.015*
Time to diagnosis of child	*-0.394,§**
Number of siblings of the child	*-0.213,//**
Duration of child’s physical therapy	0.070*
Gender of the child	0.072‡
Ranking of the child among siblings	0.141†
Child’s type of disability	0.060‡
Gross motor function classification system	-0.270†,§
Number of surgical operations the child underwent	-0.095‡
Non-family support in child care	-0.117‡

Variables	B	SE	Beta	p-value
Constant	18.587	0.851	-	<0.001*
TDC	-0.652	0.168	-0.328	0.001*
GMFCS	-0.480	0.203	-0.199	0.020*
NSC	-0.408	0.160	-0.208	0.012*

vertical_align_top show_chart

more_horiz close
- image
- translate
- link
- article
- vertical_align_top
- file_download
- show_chart
- image
- translate
- link
- article

location_on

Sociedade de Pediatria de São Paulo R. Maria Figueiredo, 595 - 10o andar, 04002-003 São Paulo - SP - Brasil, Tel./Fax: (11 55) 3284-0308; 3289-9809; 3284-0051 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rpp@spsp.org.br

rss_feed Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[T1FN1] SD: standard deviation; TL: Turkish Lira; RCAS: ranking of the child among siblings; BMI: body mass index.