Cross-sectional study links child independence with maternal well-being in spina bifida

Greater functional independence among children with spina bifida was associated with better maternal quality of life and fewer depressive symptoms in a cross-sectional study of 30 children aged 2 to 18 years and their mothers. The association extended across several measures: children’s functional independence correlated with both maternal quality of life and maternal depression scores, while mothers’ health-related quality of life was linked to the children’s own quality of life.

Researchers assessed each child’s functional independence with the Pediatric Functional Independence Measure, known as WeeFIM, and the children’s quality of life with the Children’s Quality of Life Scale, or CQLS. Maternal health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Nottingham Health Profile, or NHP, and maternal depression levels with the Beck Depression Inventory, or BDI. This combination allowed the study to examine relationships among children’s abilities and well-being, mothers’ psychological and health-related outcomes, and family socioeconomic circumstances at one point in time.

Children’s functional independence showed a moderate, statistically significant negative correlation with maternal quality of life, with r = −0.421 and p = 0.023. It was also moderately and significantly associated with maternal depression scores, at r = −0.412 and p = 0.024. In the study’s interpretation, the negative correlation between functional independence and depression means that mothers of children with greater independence tended to report fewer depressive symptoms. The researchers also identified difficulties in self-care, communication and social interaction among the children as relevant features of their limited functional independence.

The analysis found a high, statistically significant negative correlation between maternal NHP scores and pediatric quality-of-life scores, at r = −0.561 and p = 0.008. The authors interpreted this result as indicating that greater maternal health distress was associated with lower quality of life among the children. Family income also had a moderate, statistically significant negative correlation with maternal depression, at r = −0.380 and p = 0.03. These findings connect lower income with greater maternal depressive symptoms, but the cross-sectional measurements do not establish that income caused the depression or that changes in independence would cause changes in maternal well-being.

Overall, the study reports that children’s compromised quality of life and limited functional independence were significantly correlated with maternal depression and poorer maternal health-related quality of life. It also highlights lower family income as another factor associated with maternal psychological well-being. The authors suggest that integrated, multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs should address children’s functional status while incorporating psychosocial support services for the family. Because the sample was small and included only 30 child–mother pairs, the results require replication and do not establish direction, causation or the effects of any particular rehabilitation program.

Subject of Research: Associations between child functional independence, family income, and maternal depression and quality of life in spina bifida

Article Title: Life quality and depression in mothers of children with spina bifida: A cross-sectional study

Article References: Tıkaç, G., Kavlak, E., Altın, F. N., Kavlak, E., & Ök, N. (2026). Life quality and depression in mothers of children with spina bifida: A cross-sectional study. BMC Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05613-z

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-05613-z

Keywords: spina bifida, maternal depression, functional independence, quality of life, family income, child health, caregiver well-being, cross-sectional study, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, Life, quality, depression