Clinical Research Directory

Sleep Quality and Caregiver Burden in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong condition affecting movement and posture, often requiring substantial care from family members. Children with CP frequently experience sleep disturbances associated with motor impairment, pain, seizures, and other clinical factors. Sleep difficulties may also be associated with poor sleep quality, psychological symptoms, and increased burden among caregivers. This single-center, observational, cross-sectional study evaluated sleep characteristics in children with CP, caregiver sleep quality, and caregiver burden, as well as their associations with functional status and caregiver psychological symptoms. The study included 61 children with CP and their primary caregivers. Eligible children were aged 2-18 years. Children's sleep characteristics were assessed using a 33-item parent-reported questionnaire adapted from the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), which was not identical to the validated Turkish CSHQ. Children's functional characteristics were evaluated using GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS. Caregiver sleep quality, caregiver burden, and psychological symptoms were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. The study was designed to examine associations among child sleep characteristics, caregiver sleep quality, caregiver burden, and psychological well-being.