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Perceived Social Support and Quality of Life of Children with and without Developmental Disabilities and Their Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Isabelle Gansella Rocha Da Costa

    (Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil)

  • Beatriz Helena Brugnaro

    (Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil)

  • Camila Resende Gâmbaro Lima

    (Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil)

  • Olaf Kraus de Camargo

    (CanChild, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7, Canada)

  • Lais Fumincelli

    (Department of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil)

  • Silvia Letícia Pavão

    (Department of Prevention and Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 80060-000, PR, Brazil)

  • Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha

    (Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil)

Abstract

Background: Social support and Quality of life (QoL) are important aspects of life and should be explored during the specific scenario of the pandemic. Aims: (i) to compare the perceived social support (PSS) in caregivers and the domains of QoL of the caregiver and the child with developmental disabilities (DD) and typical development (TD); (ii) to verify the existence of the association, in each group, between the PSS, and the domain of QoL of the caregiver and the child. Methods and Procedures: 52 caregivers of children with DD and 34 with TD participated remotely. We assessed PSS (Social Support Scale), children’s QoL (PedsQL-4.0-parent proxy) and caregivers’ QoL (PedsQL-Family Impact Module). The groups were compared for the outcomes using the Mann–Whitney test, and Spearman’s test evaluated the correlation between the PSS and the QoL (child and caregiver) in each of the groups. Outcomes and Results: There was no difference between groups for PSS. Children with DD presented lower values in PedsQL total, psychosocial health, physical health, social activities, and school activity. Caregivers of children with TD presented lower values in PedsQL family total, physical capacity, emotional aspect, social aspect, daily activities, and higher value in communication. In the DD group, we found a positive relationship between PSS with child: Psychosocial Health (r = 0.350) and Emotional Aspect (r = 0.380), and with family: Total (r = 0.562), Physical Capacity (r = 0.402), Emotional Aspect (r = 0.492), Social Aspect (r = 0.606), Communication (r = 0.535), Concern (r = 0.303), Daily Activities (r = 0.394) and Family Relationships (r = 0.369). In the TD group, we found that PSS was positively associated with Family: Social Aspect (r = 0.472) and Communication (r = 0.431). Conclusions and Implications: During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite both groups presenting similar PSS, there are important differences in QoL between them. For both groups, greater levels of perceived social support are associated with greater caregiver-reported in some domains of the child’s and caregiver’s QoL. These associations are more numerous, especially for the families of children with DD. This study provides a unique view into the relationships between perceived social support and QoL during the “natural experiment” of living through a pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabelle Gansella Rocha Da Costa & Beatriz Helena Brugnaro & Camila Resende Gâmbaro Lima & Olaf Kraus de Camargo & Lais Fumincelli & Silvia Letícia Pavão & Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha, 2023. "Perceived Social Support and Quality of Life of Children with and without Developmental Disabilities and Their Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4449-:d:1085593
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Saijun Zhang & Ying Hao & Yali Feng & Na Youn Lee, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts on Children with Developmental Disabilities: Service Disruption, Transition to Telehealth, and Child Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Anna Rozensztrauch & Aleksandra Kołtuniuk, 2022. "The Quality of Life of Children with Epilepsy and the Impact of the Disease on the Family Functioning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Anna Fridell & Hjalmar Nobel Norrman & Linda Girke & Sven Bölte, 2022. "Effects of the Early Phase of COVID-19 on the Autistic Community in Sweden: A Qualitative Multi-Informant Study Linking to ICF," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-47, January.
    4. Shan Lu & Yupan Wu & Zongfu Mao & Xiaohui Liang, 2020. "Association of Formal and Informal Social Support With Health-Related Quality of Life Among Chinese Rural Elders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Barbara Gugała & Beata Penar-Zadarko & Danuta Pięciak-Kotlarz & Katarzyna Wardak & Aneta Lewicka-Chomont & Magdalena Futyma-Ziaja & Józef Opara, 2019. "Assessment of Anxiety and Depression in Polish Primary Parental Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy Compared to a Control Group, as well as Identification of Selected Predictors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
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