Impact of having a disabled child on mothers’ anxiety, depression and quality of life levels

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the financial burdens, familial and social life, personal strain due to psychological burdens and stress coping behaviors on the anxiety, depression and quality of life of mothers with a disabled child. Materials and methods: Mothers ( =33.32±6.31 years) of 50 disabled children (x̄±SD=7.66±3.96 years) included in the study and were evaluated with Impact on Family Scale (IFS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Nottingham Health Profile. Results: A moderate correlation was found between the depression and anxiety levels of the mothers and all parameters except the coping (p<0.05). A high degree correlation was found between quality of life of mothers and financial burden and familial and social impact, and a moderately positive correlation with personal strain and coping (p<0.05). Also correlations were found between the sleep and all parameters of IFS (p<0.05). IFS affects the anxiety and depression levels of the mothers (p<0.05). Quality of life of mothers were affected by the IFS. Conclusion: Having a disabled child was inevitable for mothers to have problems in familial and social life. The psychological and physical loads cause mothers to experience personal difficulties and imbalances, and have also affected their depression and anxiety levels.