The Impact of Disasters on Stress Levels of Caregivers of Children with Special Needs: A Comparative Study

Yıl 2024, Sayı: 23, 811 - 831, 31.08.2024

Sinem Erturan , Zekiye Başaran , Mustafa Burak , Bülent Elbasan

https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1331955

Öz

Aim: Caring needs of children with special needs increase the stress levels of caregivers for many reasons. The aim of this study was to examine, compare, and provide recommendations regarding the stress levels, factors influencing stress levels, and coping strategies among caregivers of both healthy and special needs children during disaster periods.
Method: This research was planned as a cross-sectional study. The survey, which was created in an electronic environment, disseminated to as many people as possible across the country via e-mail, various communication networks, and social media. After the demographic information of 261 caregivers were recorded, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, the Caregiver Strain Index, and the Ways of Coping Inventory Questionnaire were administered.
Results: While the stress level was high (Mean±SD:7.67±3.98) in the caregivers of children with special needs, this level was within the normal limits (Mean±SD:6.44±3.61) in the caregivers of healthy children. There was a significant difference between the groups (p:0.009). In terms of coping with stress, caregivers of children with special needs were found to prefer emotion-focused/passive approaches, and there was a difference between the groups (p:0.000).
Conclusion: The restrictive conditions during disaster period can impact the mental health of caregivers of special needs children, and there are several factors involved in this process. In line with this, we believe that specific policies and strategies need to be developed to support the mental health of caregivers of special needs children during extraordinary situations such as disaster scenarios.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Caregivers, natural disasters, mental health, child, children with special needs

Proje Numarası

Bulunmamaktadır.

Özel Gereksinimli Çocuklara Bakım Verenlerin Stres Düzeylerine Afetlerin Etkisi: Karşılaştırmalı Bir Çalışma

Öz

Amaç: Özel gereksinimli çocukların bakım ihtiyaçları, birçok nedenle bakıcıların stres düzeylerini artırmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, felaket dönemlerinde hem sağlıklı hem de özel gereksinimli çocukların bakıcıları arasındaki stres düzeylerini, stres düzeylerini etkileyen faktörleri ve başa çıkma stratejilerini incelemek, karşılaştırmak ve öneriler sunmaktır.
Yöntem: Bu araştırma kesitsel bir çalışma olarak planlandı. Elektronik ortamda oluşturulan anket, e-posta, çeşitli iletişim ağları ve sosyal medya aracılığıyla ülke genelinde mümkün olduğunca çok kişiye ulaştırıldı. 261 bakıcının demografik bilgileri kaydedildikten sonra, Depresyon Anksiyete Stres Ölçeği 21, Bakıcı Yükü İndeksi ve Başa Çıkma Envanteri Anketi uygulandı.
Bulgular: Özel gereksinimli çocukların bakıcılarında stres düzeyi yüksekken (Ortalama±SD: 7,67±3,98), sağlıklı çocukların bakıcılarında bu düzey normal sınırlar içindeydi (Ortalama±SD: 6,44±3,61). Gruplar arasında önemli bir fark vardı (p: 0,009). Stresle başa çıkma konusunda, özel gereksinimli çocukların bakıcılarının duygu odaklı/pasif yaklaşımları tercih ettiği ve gruplar arasında farklılık olduğu bulundu (p: 0,000).
Sonuç: Felaket dönemindeki kısıtlayıcı koşullar, özel gereksinimli çocukların bakıcılarının ruh sağlığını etkileyebilir ve bu süreçte birçok faktör rol oynar. Buna uygun olarak, felaket senaryoları gibi olağanüstü durumlarda özel gereksinimli çocukların bakıcılarının ruh sağlığını desteklemek için belirli politikalar ve stratejiler geliştirilmesi gerektiğine inanıyoruz.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bakımverenler, doğal afetler, ruh sağlığı, çocuk, özel gereksinimli çocuk

Destekleyen Kurum

Bulunmamaktadır.

Proje Numarası

Bulunmamaktadır.

Kaynakça

• 1. Sohrabi C, Alsafi Z, O'Neill N, Khan M, Kerwan A, Al-Jabir A, Iosifidis C, Agha R. World Health Organization declares global emergency: A review of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Int J Surg. 2020;76:71-76.
• 2. Kocyigit BF. Rehabilitation needs after earthquakes. Journal of Korean Medical Science. 2023;38(17).
• 3. Leocani L, Diserens K, Moccia M, Caltagirone C. Disability through COVID-19 pandemic: neurorehabilitation cannot wait. European Journal of Neurology. 2020;27(9):e50-e51.
• 4. Turk MA, McDermott S. The COVID-19 pandemic and people with disability. Disability and Health Journal. 2020;13(3):100944.
• 5. Kõlves K, Kõlves KE, De Leo D. Natural disasters and suicidal behaviours: a systematic literature review. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2013;146(1):1-14.
• 6. Thurston AM, Stöckl H, Ranganathan M. Natural hazards, disasters and violence against women and girls: a global mixed-methods systematic review. BMJ Global Health. 2021;6(4):e004377.
• 7. Lansdown G, Groce N, Deluca M, et al. Children and young people with disabilities: Fact sheet. 2013.
• 8. Organization WH. Constitution of the World Health Organization, Basic Documents. Forty: Switzerland, Geneva: World Health Organization; 2006.
• 9. Cacioppo M, Bouvier S, Bailly R, et al. Emerging health challenges for children with physical disabilities and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic: The ECHO French survey. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 2021;64(3):101429.
• 10. Mann M, McMillan JE, Silver EJ, Stein RE. Children and adolescents with disabilities and exposure to disasters, terrorism, and the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2021;23:1-12.
• 11. Sevgi G, Ayran G. Investigating the caregiving burden and stress of mothers with children with special needs. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 2024.
• 12. Dubey S, Biswas P, Ghosh R, et al. Psychosocial impact of COVID-19. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. 2020;14(5):779-788.
• 13. Mbazzi FB, Nalugya R, Kawesa E, et al. The impact of COVID-19 measures on children with disabilities and their families in Uganda. Disability & Society. 2022;37(7):1173-1196.
• 14. Wang G, Zhang Y, Zhao J, Zhang J, Jiang F. Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet. 2020;395(10228):945-947.
• 15. Jiao WY, Wang LN, Liu J, et al. Behavioral and emotional disorders in children during the COVID-19 epidemic. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2020;221:264-266.
• 16. Pasli M, Tumin D. Children’s special health care needs and caregivers’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2023;36(5):731-738.
• 17. Tso WWY, Leung LK, Chow MSC, et al. Mental health of children with special educational needs and the return to ın-person learning after the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(12):e2346106-e2346106.
• 18. Phillips B, Carpenter R. Community reintegration: Children with special healthcare needs in rural areas. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2023;73:e285-e292.
• 19. Lovibond PF, Lovibond SH. The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1995;33(3):335-343.
• 20. Robinson BC. Validation of a caregiver strain index. Journal of Gerontology. 1983;38(3):344-348.
• 21. Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping: Springer Publishing Company; 1984.
• 22. Dalvand H, Hosseini SA, Rassafiani M, Samadi SA, Khankeh HR, Kelly G. Co-occupations: The caregiving challenges of mothers of children with cerebral palsy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2015;78(7):450-459.
• 23. Nobakht Z, Rassafiani M, Hosseini S, Hosseinzadeh S. A web-based daily care training to improve the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2020;105:103731.
• 24. Farajzadeh A, Dehghanizadeh M, Maroufizadeh S, Amini M, Shamili A. Predictors of mental health among parents of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: A web-based cross-sectional study. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2021;112:103890.
• 25. Wang Y, Zhao X, Feng Q, Liu L, Yao Y, Shi J. Psychological assistance during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China: SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England; 2020.
• 26. Sajedi F, Alizad V, Malekkhosravi G, Karimlou M, Vameghi R. Depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy and its relation to severity and type of cerebral palsy. Acta Medica Iranica. 2010:250-254.
• 27. Qiu J, Shen B, Zhao M, Wang Z, Xie B, Xu Y. A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: implications and policy recommendations. General Psychiatry. 2020;33(2).
• 28. Russell BS, Hutchison M, Tambling R, Tomkunas AJ, Horton AL. Initial challenges of caregiving during COVID-19: caregiver burden, mental health, and the parent-child relationship. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2020;51(5):671-682.
• 29. Willner P, Rose J, Stenfert Kroese B, et al. Effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of carers of people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2020;33(6):1523-1533.
• 30. Moghanibashi-Mansourieh A. Assessing the anxiety level of Iranian general population during COVID-19 outbreak. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;51:102076.
• 31. Racine N, Cooke JE, Eirich R, Korczak DJ, McArthur B, Madigan S. Child and adolescent mental illness during COVID-19: A rapid review. Psychiatry Research. 2020;292:113307.
• 32. Meppelder M, Hodes M, Kef S, Schuengel C. Parenting stress and child behaviour problems among parents with intellectual disabilities: the buffering role of resources. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 2015;59(7):664-677.
• 33. Sacaze E, Garlantezec R, Rémy-néris O, et al. A survey of medical and paramedical involvement in children with cerebral palsy in Britanny: preliminary results. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;56(4):253-267.
• 34. Grumi S, Provenzi L, Gardani A, et al. Rehabilitation services lockdown during the COVID-19 emergency: the mental health response of caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2021;43(1):27-32.
• 35. Leochico CFD. Adoption of telerehabilitation in a developing country before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2020;63(6):563-564.
• 36. Sprang G, Silman M. Posttraumatic stress disorder in parents and youth after health-related disasters. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7(1):105-110.
• 37. Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet. 2020;395(10227):912-920.
• 38. Gallagher S, Wetherell MA. Risk of depression in family caregivers: unintended consequence of COVID-19. BJPsych Open. 2020;6(6).
• 39. Innocenti MS, Roggman LA, Cook GA. Using the PICCOLO with parents of children with a disability. Infant Mental Health Journal. 2013;34(4):307-318.
• 40. Dhiman S, Sahu PK, Reed WR, Ganesh GS, Goyal RK, Jain S. Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and perceived strain among caregivers tending children with special needs. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2020;107:103790.
• 41. Thompson LA, Rasmussen SA. What does the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mean for families? JAMA Pediatrics. 2020;174(6):628-628.
• 42. Scherer N, Verhey I, Kuper H. Depression and anxiety in parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS One. 2019;14(7):e0219888.
• 43. Fazzi E, Galli J. New clinical needs and strategies for care in children with neurodisability during COVID‐19. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2020;62(7):879.
• 44. Fujitani K, Carroll M, Yanagisawa R, Katz C. Burnout and psychiatric distress in local caregivers two years after the 2011 great east Japan earthquake and fukushima nuclear radiation disaster. Community Ment Health J. 2016;52(1):39-45.