The socio-emotional behavioural problems of children with cerebral palsy according to their parents' perspectives

This study aimed at identifying the behavioural difficulties facing the children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Jordan. In addition, it attempted to determine the differences between those children according to certain variables such as gender, age, level of family income, and level of disability. Besides, the sample of the study consisted of 96 students with CP aged between six and 16 years. Moreover, two scales were developed to achieve the study goals. The results revealed that children with CP on average, according to their parents' reports, had a moderate degree of overall behavioural problems across internalised problems that were composed of subscales such as shyness, depression, anxiety, and social isolation; and across externalised problems composed of the aggressiveness scale. There were significant differences due to the gender variable on the overall scale and on the anxiety dimension in favour of male children. Moreover, there were significant differences on the shyness and isolation dimensions due to the level of disability in favour of children with CP and mental retardation. Also, there were statistically significant differences due to the child's age in overall behaviour problems in both the anxiety and the aggressive dimensions. Finally, based on the findings, appropriate recommendations were suggested.