Clinical and maternal factors associated with pain and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy

African Journal of Disability

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Clinical and maternal factors associated with pain and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy
 
Creator Abid, Manel Galipeau, Roseline Gaddour, Mariem Mtaoua, Sahbi Moncer, Rihab Jemni, Sonia
 
Subject neuropediatric disease, family centered care, rehabilitation youths; parents; stress; functional disabilities; developmental disabilities.
Description Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) represents the most common and disabling motor disorder in childhood. It can lead to chronic pain and reduced quality of life (QOL). These challenges can also affect mothers, who are typically the primary caregivers, contributing to physical and psychosocial strain.Objectives: This study explored the associations between motor impairment, chronic pain, and QOL in children with CP, as well as maternal stress and pain intensity, and examined their mediating roles.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 132 mother–child dyads in Tunisia. Children were aged 4 to 12 years. The Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Visual Analogue Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale were used to assess motor impairment, quality of life, and chronic pain intensity in children with CP, as well as maternal pain intensity and stress.Results: Motor impairment was significantly associated with lower child QOL (β = −0.671; SE = 0.657, p  0.001) and higher pain intensity (β = 0.5; SE = 1.213, p  0.001). Maternal stress partially mediated the relationship between motor impairment and child QOL (Sobel test = −4.073; p  0.001). Maternal pain also partially mediated the relationship between motor impairment and child pain (Sobel test = 2.505; p = 0.012).Conclusion: These findings highlight the significant impact of motor impairment on QOL and chronic pain intensity in children with CP.Contribution: This study emphasises the mediating roles of maternal stress and pain intensity, suggesting that interventions should address both the physical symptoms of CP and the psychosocial well-being of children and their mothers.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2025-08-18
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1731
 
Source African Journal of Disability; Vol 14 (2025); 9 pages 2226-7220 2223-9170
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1731/3601 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1731/3602 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1731/3603 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1731/3604
 
Coverage north Africa — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Manel Abid, Roseline Galipeau, Mariem Gaddour, Sahbi Mtaoua, Rihab Moncer, Sonia Jemni https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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