Family Functioning and Quality of Life

The research was conducted in order to examine and compare the association of participation in family activities and family quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and children with typical development. According to the hypothesis set, participation in family activities is positively associated with family quality of life. One hundred and ten participants with cerebral palsy, of both gender, aged from seven to 18 years and 134 participants with typical development were included, with no statistically significant differences in relation to their gender and age. As indicators, the frequency of family activities, presence of participants and level of their involvement were selected, as well as the level of parental satisfaction with certain aspects of family life. The Child Participation in Family Activities Questionnaire (Child-PFA) and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (Beach FQOL Scale) were used. The relations were different than expected. In the group of participants with cerebral palsy, statistical significance of a smaller number of positive correlations was confirmed than in the group of participants with typical development. Additionally, the difference was observed in the presence of older participants with cerebral palsy (13–18 years) in organized activities through statistically significant negative and low to moderate correlation (p < .05). The family environment is the primary environment of a child. Therefore, a better quality of life at the family level could have a positive effect on certain characteristics of participation of children with cerebral palsy. Although the hypothesis was not confirmed, it was confirmed that changes in participation in family activities of children with cerebral palsy, as multiple disability, were associated with the quality of life of the whole family.

Keywords: participation, cerebral palsy, family, family activities, quality of family life

Istraživanje je sprovedeno sa ciljem da se ispita i uporedi međusobna povezanost participacije u porodičnim aktivnostima i porodičnog kvaliteta života dece s cerebralnom paralizom i dece tipičnog razvoja. Postavljena je hipoteza prema kojoj je participacija u porodičnim aktivnostima pozitivno povezana sa porodičnim kvalitetom života. Obuhvaćeno je 110 ispitanika s cerebralnom paralizom, oba pola, starosti od sedam do 18 godina i 134 ispitanika tipičnog razvoja, bez statističke značajnosti razlike u odnosu na pol i uzrast. Kao indikatori, odabrani su frekventnost porodičnih aktivnosti, učestvovanje ispitanika i stepen njihove uključenosti, uz stepen roditeljskog zadovoljstva pojedinim aspektima porodičnog života. Primenjeni su Upitnik o participaciji deteta u porodičnim aktivnostima (Child Participation in Family Activities Questionnaire – Child-PFA) i Skala porodičnog kvaliteta života (Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale – Beach FQOL Scale). Rezultati su ukazali na odstupanja od očekivanih relacija. U grupi ispitanika s cerebralnom paralizom je potvrđena statistička značajnost manjeg broja pozitivih korelacija nego u grupi ispitanika tipičnog razvoja. Takođe, odstupanje je uočeno kod prisustvovanja starijih ispitanika s cerebralnom paralizom (13–18 godina) organizovanim aktivnostima kroz statistički značajne negativne i niske do umerene korelacije (p < 0,05). Porodično okruženje je primarno sredinsko okruženje deteta, te bi bolji kvalitet života na nivou porodice mogao imati pozitivan efekat na pojedine karakteristike participacije dece s cerebralnom paralizom. Iako postavljena hipoteza nije potvrđena, zaključeno je da su promene u participaciji u porodičnim aktivnostima dece s cerebralnom paralizom, kao višestrukom ometenošću, povezane sa kvalitetom života cele porodice.

Ključne reči: participacija, cerebralna paraliza, porodica, porodične aktivnosti, kvalitet života porodice