Razlike između majki i očeva djece s cerebralnom paralizom u rizičnim i zaštitnim faktorima te prilagodbi
Differences Between Mothers and Fathers of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Risk Factors, Resistance Factors and Adjustment

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore differences between mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy in factors which are pronounced in model of adjustment to chronic disorders (Wallander and Varni, 1998): risk factors (sources and intensity of parental stress), resistance factors (personality traits, coping with stress, marital quality) and adjustment (psychical symptoms and subjective health complaints, pleasant and unpleasant mood). The results were obtained on sample of 58 married couples, parents of children with cerebral palsy who attend regular kindergartens and schools, and in some instances special institutions, from eight Croatian cities. Participants completed a range of questionnaires which are intended to measure relevant risk and resistance factors and various aspects of parental adjustment. Mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy do not differ from each other in intensity of parental stress in total (risk factor), but they do differ in particular sources of stress. Mothers experience greater stress from lack of social support and parental role strains. Fathers experience greater stress from other role strains. In respect to resistance factors, mothers of children with cerebral palsy score higher on agreeableness and are more prone to use emotion focused coping. Mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy differ only in unpleasant mood (mothers have higher unpleasant mood), but they do not differ in pleasant mood, in psychical symptoms and subjective health complaints. Equality between mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy in most adjustment aspects implies conclusion that mothers and fathers are nearly in the same risk of problems in adjustment to chronic childhood disorder.

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