Resilience, Self-Compassion, and Quality of Life Among Indian Parents of Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: Caring for children with cerebral palsy (CP) places heavy psychological, emotional, and physical demands on parents, particularly mothers, in India’s resource-constrained settings. Despite this, little is known about how positive psychological resources like resilience and self-compassion influence caregivers’ quality of life (QoL) in this context. Aim: This study aimed to assess the levels of resilience, self-compassion, and quality of life among parents of children and adolescents with CP in Karnataka, India, and examine how these psychological resources relate to caregivers’ well-being. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 70 biological parents (51 mothers, 19 fathers) of children and adolescents diagnosed with CP, recruited from special education schools and rehabilitation centers across Karnataka. Standardized measures used included the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and WHOQOL-BREF to assess resilience, self-compassion, and QoL, respectively. Chi-square analyses were applied to examine associations between these constructs. Results and conclusion: Results revealed moderate-to-high levels of resilience and self-compassion among caregivers, with significant associations between higher resilience and better psychological and environmental QoL. However, no significant associations were found between self-compassion and QoL domains or resilience levels. The findings suggest that while resilience appears to play a critical protective role in caregiver well-being, the impact of self-compassion may be influenced by contextual and cultural factors unique to the Indian caregiving environment. Study limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report data. Policy and practice implications highlight the importance of developing culturally tailored interventions that enhance resilience and support caregivers’ mental health to improve family outcomes.