Physical Activity, Function, and Well-being in Mothers with Disabled Children

Physical Activity, Function, and Well-being in Mothers with Disabled ChildrenPurpose: This study aimed to evaluate the physical activity, functional capacity, and psychological well-being of mothers with physically and mentally disabled children and mothers without disabled children.Methods: A total of 105 mothers living in Gaziantep city participated in this study.The mothers' ages ranged from 23 to 59 years.The physical activity levels of the mothers were assessed using the international physical activity qquestionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF), their functional capacities were measured using the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), and their psychological wellbeing was evaluated using the Beck depression inventory (BDI). Results:At the end of the study, the IPAQ total metabolic equivalent (MET) scores and 6-MWT walking distances were similar between groups (P>0.05).When comparing the total BDI scores, the psychological well-being scores of mothers with non-disabled children were significantly lower than those of mothers with disabled children (P<0.05). Conclusion:Mothers of physically or mentally disabled children had similar scores in terms of physical activity and functional capacity compared to mothers without disabled children; however, their psychological well-being scores were worse.