The evaluati̇ng ffect of depressi̇on and anxi̇ety levels on quali̇ty of li̇fe for the mothers of mentally and physi̇cally handi̇capped (Cerebral palsy) chi̇ldren whose ages are between 5-18 years old

Aim of this study is to investigate effects of depression and anxiety level of the mothers whose children are mentally and physically disabled, between 5-18 years old and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy on their life quality. In this relational screening model study, Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Whoqol-Breftr Life Quality Scale are applied on 81 mothers whose children are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and medium-level mental development deficiency and who are randomly chosen in Istanbul. It is seen that these persons have medium-level depression symptoms and major anxiety (p>0.05). Of the life quality sub scales, scores of social life sub scale are the highest among persons (p>0.05). A significant relation is found between scores from depression scale and scores of anxiety scale. Score which persons get from anxiety scale increases as long as score from depression scale increases (p>0.05). A significant relation is also found between scores which persons get from life quality sub scales and scores from beck depression and anxiety scales (p>0.05). As depression and anxiety increase, life quality decreases. Consequently: rates of depression and anxiety are high in mothers whose children are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and these rates have a negative effect on their life quality. Key Words : Anxiety, depression, life satisfaction. Serebral Palsy.