Determination and Comparision of Parents’ Having Children With Cerebral Palsy Self- Efficacy Level

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the self- efficacy levels of the parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and compare their parental self- efficacy levels. Methods: The sample group of this descriptive study consisted of 153 parents of children diagnosed with CP (106 mothers, and 47 fathers), who were attending to four special education and rehabilitation centres affiliated to the Konya Provincial Directorate of National Education. Of these parents, 47 were couples. Data of the study was collected using the Introductory Information Form and the Parental Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES) between February and March 2019. Results: The average age of children with CP was 8.83±4.58 and 54.2% of them were male, 72.5% of them did not attend school, %43.8 of them were congenitally handicapped and 46.4% of them had more than two affected extremities. The average self-efficacy perception score of the parents was found to be 5.91 ± 1.03. It was determined that the parents whose family type is nuclear family and whose children are girls have higher self-efficacy scores. The average self-efficacy score of the parents according to the affected limb was found to be significant. The average self-efficacy score of the parents according to the affected limb was found to be significant. Parental self-efficacy score was found to be lower in parents with children with more than two affected limbs than parents with one or two affected limbs. Analyzes made for the effects of the lives of the individuals were determined regarding the out-of-home responsibility and other time allocated and the parents' self-efficacy score averages. As a result of the analyzes made for the effects of the lives of the individuals, a difference was found between the self-efficacy score averages of the parents and the time allocated to others. It was found that there was a difference between the emotional states of anger and sadness experienced by the individuals and the self-efficacy score averages of the parents. A significant difference was found between the male parents 'sense of affection and the parents' self-efficacy mean scores. It was determined that the feeling of affection was higher. Conclusion: Having children with CP, the parents' self-efficacy score was found to be high and affected by some of the characteristics of the parents. Parents' parental self-efficacy score averages were similar.