Occupational balance and quality of life in mothers of children with cerebral palsy

Introduction Occupational balance (OB) is an important concept in occupational therapy and is considered as an essential component of health and well-being. The aim of this study was to show differences in OB and quality of life (QoL) between mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing children. Methods Thirty-six mothers of children with CP and 36 mothers of typically developing children participated in the study. The mothers' OB was evaluated using the Turkish Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 (OBQ11-T), and their QoL was evaluated with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Results The OBQ11-T, total score, and the item 'balance between obligatory and voluntary occupations' score differed significantly between the groups (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in NHP's aspects of emotional reaction, social isolation, and sleep scores between the groups (p < 0.05). A negative correlation was detected between OBQ11-T total and NHP total scores in mothers of children with CP (p < 0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates that occupational therapists should pay attention to balance between obligatory and voluntary occupations to promote occupational balance. Also, QoL in mothers of children with CP should be evaluated. Therefore, occupational therapists should implement interventions to increase them when necessary for mothers of children with CP.