Investigation of the relationship between emotional intelligence levels, family influence and depression of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy with and without swallowing disorder

The aim of our study is to investigate the distance between the emotional intelligence levels of caregivers of people with CP and family influence and quality of life. Children with Cerebral Palsy between the ages of 2-18 and those who provided designs were included in the study. Demographic information of both children and caregivers was recorded. Caregivers' emotional intelligence level was measured by the Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, and their levels were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Caregiver quality of life was measured with the PedsQL Familial Impact Questionnaire. Degrees of being affected by swallowing disorders were measured using the Nutrition/Swallowing Impact Survey (Turkish version of the Nutrition-Swallowing Impact Survey / T-FS IS). The gross motor function levels of the children were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). To identify children's swallowing disorders, the English Eating Assessment Tool for Children (Pedi-EAT-10) was recorded. The children included in the study are divided into two groups according to the functioning of the Eating and Drinking Skills Classification System (EDACS): Those between levels 2-5 are in the study group (GROUP 1); Those with level 1 were called the control group (GROUP 2). There was a low level of positive aspects between the emotional intelligence constructive optimism sub-score, PedsQL functional sub-scores and the total score of motor caregivers with CP (p<0.05). A positive low level was found between the use of emotional intelligence productivity sub-score of motor caregivers with CP and the PedsQL functional family function sub-score, and a mid-level appearance was found between the family function sub-score and daily activities (p<0.05). The emotional intelligence performance of caregivers of children with CP is found strongly between the total score and the PedsQL Family function (daily activities) subscore (p<0.05). There were negative aspects and a low level of appearance between the emotional intelligence performance evaluation sub-score of caregivers of people with CP and Beck's resilient performance scores (p<0.05). A moderate level of positive aspects was found between the emotional intelligence productivity total score of caregivers of people with CP and all sub-scores and total scores of PedsQL (p<0.05). An intermediate level of negative aspects was found between the emotional intelligence performance evaluation of child caregivers total score and Beck's resilient performance and T-FS-IS total score (p<0.05). A low-level appearance was found between the total emotional intelligence and T-FS-IS Daily Life and Anxiety sub-scores of the caregivers in Group 1 (p<0.05). A moderate distribution was found between the total emotional intelligence of the caregivers in Group 1 and PEDSQL family resilience (p<0.05). There were differences in CP subtype distributions, GMFCS levels and Enteral Nutrition Experience between groups (p<0.001). There were significant differences between the children with CP in Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of Pedi-EAT-10) score (p<0.001). There was a difference between the groups in terms of PEDI subscores and total score (p<0.001). There was no difference in sub-scores and total score in emotional intelligence performance between the care of children with CP in group 1 and group 2 (p>0.05). There was a difference between all subscores and total scores between groups in terms of PedsQL family influence (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of caregivers' T-FS-IS scores (p<0.001). As a result, while there is no difference in emotional intelligence levels between the groups, there is a relationship between the emotional intelligence scores of the mothers who care for all children with CP and family influence and quality of life. There was a relationship between the emotional intelligence levels of caregivers of people with swallowing disorder CP and family influence and quality of life.