Evaluation of health-related quality of life among parents of children with developmental coordination disorder

Abstract

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a vastly reported disorder with a prevalence estimated of 7-8% in children aged 5 to 10 years. There is a false perception of parents of children with DCD that their children will come out of the motor coordination defects as they age (Adults). This false perception affects the child directly, and they will not outgrow of the problem, however, becomes socially isolated. Motor difficulties reported in children with DCD are heterogeneous. When the HRQOL focuses on children's, it is mandatory to include the domains that elaborate the illness, mental health aspects, comfort ability of the child and also the effects on their parents. The study aims to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among parents of children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Thirty parents of children with and without DCD were enrolled in the study and HRQOL of the parents was examined using the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). When considering the HRQOL among parents of children with and without DCD, there occur different results among father and mother. However, parents of children with DCD had significantly lower HRQOL (p < .05). This study provides evidence that DCD significantly affects multiple HRQOL domains among the parents of children with DCD.