Psychosocial aspects of mothers of children with strabismus.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the psychological profile of mothers of children with strabismus, their attitudes to their children, and their family functioning.

METHODS

This study was conducted at Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, from 2000 to 2002 and involved a series of 30 children with strabismus and 31 healthy controls. All mothers were asked to complete Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI), and Family Assessment Device (FAD).

RESULTS

Mothers of the children with strabismus had significantly higher depression scores ( P = 0.042) compared with mothers of the control group. They demonstrated significantly lower scores in democratic attitude, meaning that they failed to constitute a supportive and friendship relation with their children, ( P = 0.0001). These mothers had significantly higher scores in rejection of maternal role ( P = 0.017) as compared with mothers of the control group. They were nervous, distressed, and angry in the relationship with their children, with unhappiness and more dissatisfaction with respect to maternal role. Mothers of the children with strabismus had poor role functioning in the family, which is related to satisfying the food, clothing, and support needs ( P = 0.034). They also had poor affective responsiveness, which means the ability of family members to respond with appropriate emotion ( P = 0.003), and poor general functioning ( P = 0.040) as compared with mothers of the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that, for mothers who have children with strabismus, strabismus had an adverse effect on their lives, and their family relationships.