Stress in Caregivers and Children with a Developmental Disorder Who Receive Rehabilitation.

UNLABELLED

This study aimed to evaluate the stress levels of caregivers and children with developmental disorders who were receiving rehabilitation treatment. The relationships between stress levels and factors such as early rehabilitation and home rehabilitation were quantified.

METHODS

This study was conducted in children with development disorders, aged from 1.5 years to 18 years, who were undergoing rehabilitation. The Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) and the Adult Self-Report (K-ASR) were used to evaluate stress levels in children and caregivers, respectively.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were provided to 150 caregivers who agreed to participate. However, only 76 copies of the K-CBCL and 75 copies of the K-ASR were collected. The mean K-CBCL and K-ASR scores were in the normal range. The K-CBCL score correlated positively with the K-ASR score ( value < 0.5). K-CBCL externalizing problems score correlated positively with the age at the start of rehabilitation, and the K-CBCL and K-ASR externalizing problems scores correlated negatively with home treatment delivered by caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress levels of children and caregivers were closely related. Home rehabilitation provided by caregivers reduced stress in both caregivers and children. Early rehabilitation did not impart additional psychological burden on caregivers or children.