Coping and Adaptation in Families of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between family coping with cerebral palsy (CP) and family adaptation. Participants were 274 families of persons with CP recruited through 12 United Cerebral Palsy associations in the north central area of the United States. Factor analysis suggested that 64.7% of the variance in family coping was accounted for by the following factor variables: positive family appraisal, support from concerned others, spiritual support, personal growth and advocacy, and positive social interaction. Stepwise multiple regression of these variables yielded that positive family appraisal (p < .000) and spiritual support (p = .013) were predictive of family adaptation. Multivariate analysis of variance with Pillai's criterion revealed that family coping with CP differed in family life cycle stages (p = .002). Analysis of variance also indicated that family adaptation differed in terms of family life cycle stages (p = .004).