Al-Eithan Muwafak, Al Juban Hathab, Robert Asirvatham Alwin
Department of Psychology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Pan Afr Med J. 2013 May 12;15:21. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2013.15.21.2229. eCollection 2013.
To examine the presence of dissociation among Arab mothers with disabled children in Saudi Arabia, and to explore if this is linked to their mood difficulties, in addition to certain other demographic variables.
We conducted a prospective study during the period of June 2011 to February 2012, on 86 mothers (study group) caring for children with physical, mental or sensory disabilities treated at Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients' selection was conducted using convenience sampling, non-probability technique. A total of 32 mothers (control group) with healthy children were also included. The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-11 Arabic) was used to measure dissociation whereas; the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) was used to measure the mood symptoms of mothers. The demographic data of mothers and children were also collected.
The mean age of the children with disability was 5.6.±3.1 and healthy children 6.3±3.7 (range 1-14) years. The mean age of mothers in the study group (n=86) was 33.9±6.1 while the control group was 35.2±7.3 years. Results showed that the study group had higher level (Mean=39.9; SD=24.033) of dissociative experience than control sample (Mean=21.08; SD=14.487) (p=0.0001). Compared to control, mothers of disabled children scored significantly higher HADS-anxiety (p=0.042) and HADS-depression (p=0.021). In addition, results also showed that dissociation had significant correlation with mother's depression and anxiety. However, no significant correlations were found between dissociation and child's and mother's age.
Mothers of disabled children in Saudi Arabia showed significantly more dissociative experiences than controls, which is correlated to their anxiety and depression. Clinical implications are discussed.
调查沙特阿拉伯残疾儿童的阿拉伯母亲中分离症状的存在情况，并探讨这是否与她们的情绪困扰以及某些其他人口统计学变量有关。
我们在2011年6月至2012年2月期间进行了一项前瞻性研究，研究对象为86名在沙特阿拉伯利雅得苏丹·本·阿卜杜勒阿齐兹人道主义城照料身体、精神或感官残疾儿童的母亲（研究组）。患者选择采用便利抽样这一非概率技术。还纳入了32名有健康孩子的母亲（对照组）。使用分离体验量表（DES - 11阿拉伯语版）来测量分离症状，而医院焦虑抑郁量表（HADS）用于测量母亲的情绪症状。同时收集了母亲和孩子的人口统计学数据。
残疾儿童的平均年龄为5.6±3.1岁，健康儿童为6.3±3.7岁（年龄范围1 - 14岁）。研究组（n = 86）母亲的平均年龄为33.9±6.1岁，对照组为35.2±7.3岁。结果显示，研究组的分离体验水平（均值 = 39.9；标准差 = 24.033）高于对照组样本（均值 = 21.08；标准差 = 14.487）（p = 0.0001）。与对照组相比，残疾儿童的母亲在HADS - 焦虑量表上得分显著更高（p = 0.042），在HADS - 抑郁量表上得分也显著更高（p = 0.021）。此外，结果还表明分离症状与母亲的抑郁和焦虑显著相关。然而，在分离症状与孩子及母亲的年龄之间未发现显著相关性。
沙特阿拉伯残疾儿童的母亲表现出比对照组显著更多的分离体验，这与她们的焦虑和抑郁相关。文中讨论了临床意义。
