Global attributional style, perceived professional support and psychological distress among parents of children with physical disabilities

Abstract

Parents of children with physical disabilities are at risk of developing psychological distress but few studies have been found in this area. The purpose of this study was to establish the association between global attributional style and psychological distress; and the association between perceived professional support and psychological distress among parents of children with physical disabilities at Mulago Hospital. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted where a total of 94 parents of children with physical disabilities at Mulago Hospital were consecutively selected during their regular visits to the Paediatric Neuro and Cerebral Palsy clinics. The Attributional Style Questionnaire, Measure of Processes of Care and the Self Report Questionnaire were administered to assess for global attributional style, perceived professional support and psychological distress respectively. Logistic regression was used to establish the association between global attributional style, perceived professional support and psychological distress. Level of education, occupation, marital status, psychiatric history and past trauma were controlled for in the regression model. Results showed the prevalence of psychological distress to be 43.6%; no significant association between global attributional style and psychological distress (coefficient =0.90; 95% [CI] 0.72-8.48; p = 0.15) and a significant negative association between professional support and psychological distress (coefficient = -.10; 95% [CI] 1.01-1.21; p = 0.03). Level of education and marital status were significantly associated with psychological distress. Psychological distress is prevalent among parents of children with physical disabilities. Professional support protects these parents against psychological distress. There is a need for health care workers to provide support against psychological distress.