Vulnerability to depression and resolution in mothers of children with cerebral palsy

This study investigated associations between Self-Criticism and Dependency as factors of vulnerability to depression and maternal resolution. Resolution entails parental cognitive and emotional acceptance of the child's developmental disability.

Our sample included 100 mothers whose children had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The Reaction to Diagnosis Interview, the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and the Depression Scale were administered.

The results showed that unresolved mothers scored higher on the dimensions of Self-Criticism and Dependency compared to their resolved counterparts. The hierarchical cluster analysis yielded three maternal profiles based on the scores obtained on the dimensions of vulnerability to depression, regardless of maternal resolution status. The first profile was labeled Low Vulnerability and was characterized by low scores on Self-Criticism and Dependency. The second profile was labeled Dependent and it included mothers with higher scores on Dependency and lower scores on Self-Criticism. The third profile comprised mothers with higher scores on both Self-Criticism and Dependency. The smallest proportion of unresolved mothers belonged to the third, most vulnerable profile labeled Double Vulnerability.

We discussed the implications of the obtained results in light of a need for psychotherapeutic interventions that would focus on individual differences when providing support to parental resolution.