Abid Manel, Galipeau Roseline, Gaddour Mariem, Mtaoua Sahbi, Moncer Rihab, Jemni Sonia
School of Health Sciences and Techniques, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Department of Nursing, Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Gatineau, Canada.
Afr J Disabil. 2025 Aug 18;14:1731. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v14i0.1731. eCollection 2025.
Cerebral palsy (CP) represents the most common and disabling motor disorder in childhood. It can lead to chronic pain and reduced quality of life (QOL). These challenges can also affect mothers, who are typically the primary caregivers, contributing to physical and psychosocial strain.
This study explored the associations between motor impairment, chronic pain, and QOL in children with CP, as well as maternal stress and pain intensity, and examined their mediating roles.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 132 mother-child dyads in Tunisia. Children were aged 4 to 12 years. The Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Visual Analogue Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale were used to assess motor impairment, quality of life, and chronic pain intensity in children with CP, as well as maternal pain intensity and stress.
Motor impairment was significantly associated with lower child QOL (β = -0.671; SE = 0.657, < 0.001) and higher pain intensity (β = 0.5; SE = 1.213, < 0.001). Maternal stress partially mediated the relationship between motor impairment and child QOL (Sobel test = -4.073; < 0.001). Maternal pain also partially mediated the relationship between motor impairment and child pain (Sobel test = 2.505; = 0.012).
These findings highlight the significant impact of motor impairment on QOL and chronic pain intensity in children with CP.
This study emphasises the mediating roles of maternal stress and pain intensity, suggesting that interventions should address both the physical symptoms of CP and the psychosocial well-being of children and their mothers.
脑瘫（CP）是儿童期最常见且导致残疾的运动障碍。它会引发慢性疼痛并降低生活质量（QOL）。这些挑战也会影响母亲，她们通常是主要照顾者，会导致身体和心理社会压力。
本研究探讨了脑瘫患儿运动功能障碍、慢性疼痛和生活质量之间的关联，以及母亲的压力和疼痛强度，并检验了它们的中介作用。
在突尼斯对132对母婴进行了一项横断面研究。儿童年龄在4至12岁之间。使用粗大运动功能分类系统、脑瘫生活质量问卷、视觉模拟量表和感知压力量表来评估脑瘫患儿的运动功能障碍、生活质量和慢性疼痛强度，以及母亲的疼痛强度和压力。
运动功能障碍与患儿较低的生活质量（β = -0.671；标准误 = 0.657，<0.001）和较高的疼痛强度（β = 0.5；标准误 = 1.213，<0.001）显著相关。母亲的压力部分介导了运动功能障碍与患儿生活质量之间的关系（索贝尔检验 = -4.073；<0.001）。母亲的疼痛也部分介导了运动功能障碍与患儿疼痛之间的关系（索贝尔检验 = 2.505；P = 0.012）。
这些发现凸显了运动功能障碍对脑瘫患儿生活质量和慢性疼痛强度的重大影响。
本研究强调了母亲压力和疼痛强度的中介作用，表明干预措施应同时解决脑瘫的身体症状以及儿童及其母亲的心理社会福祉问题。
