Investigation of the relationship between exercise compliance, motivation and psychosocial status of the caregiver in children with neuromuscular diseases

This study was planned to investigate the relationship between exercise adaptation and motivation of children with neuromuscular disease (NMD) and the psychosocial status of their caregivers. For this purpose, 54 children diagnosed with NMH between the ages of 8-18 and their caregivers were included. Demographic information of the participants and detailed information about the disease were recorded. Children's motivation level is measured by the Pediatric Motivation Scale (PMS), their physical activity level is measured by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C), factors affecting their physical activity and their interest in physical activity are measured by the Children's Physical Activity Relationship Questionnaire (CPAC); Caregivers' anxiety, depression and stress levels were evaluated with Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), care burden with Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, quality of life with Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and family influence level with PedsQL™ Family Impact Module (PedsQL™: FIM). SPSS (ver. 23) program was used in the statistical analysis of the evaluation results. The average age of the participating children was found to be 10.93±2.64. Statistically significant relationships were found between PMS and DASS-21, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, NHP and PedsQL™: FIM in different directions and strengths (p<0.05). Statistically significant relationships were found between CPAC and DASS 21 Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, NHP and PedsQL™: FIM in different directions and strengths (p<0.05). Statistically significant negative relationships of different strengths were found between PAQ-C and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and PedsQL™: FIM (p<0.05). Study results: Caregiver's influence on exercise compliance and motivation of children with NMH; It shows that psychosocial status (anxiety, depression, stress level, care burden, quality of life and family influence level) can be an important factor.