Comparison of the physical activity level and functional capacities of the mothers of children with disabled and non-disabled children

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the physical activity, functional capacity and depression levels of mothers without children with disabilities, mothers with children with mental disabilities and mothers with children with physical disabilities. This research was conducted from January 2020 to November 2021. A total of 105 women, including 35 mothers with no disabled children, 35 mothers with mentally retarded children and 35 mothers with physically disabled children, living in Gaziantep province were included in the study. The ages of the volunteers ranged from 23 to 59 years. Sociodemographic data were recorded. The physical activity levels of the mothers participating in the study were determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ); functional capacities 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT); Depression levels were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0 package program was used for data analysis. As a result of the analyzes made; Mothers without a disabled child and mothers with mentally disabled children and mothers with physically disabled children were similar in terms of IPAQ total MET values ​​(p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of 6MWT walking distances (p>0.05). When BDI total scores were compared; Depression scores of mothers with non-disabled children were significantly lower than mothers with physically or mentally handicapped children (p<0.05). As a result; mothers of physically or mentally handicapped children have high levels of depression. There is a need for studies with larger samples evaluating physical activity, functional capacity and depression levels of mothers of disabled children. Keywords: Mother of Disabled Child; Physical Activity Level; 6MWT; Depression.