Families who have children with cerebral palsy (CP) face many difficulties and problems in Turkey. Among the most common are psychological problems. The aim of this study was to investigate howdisability levels of children with CP affect anxiety levels of their mothers. This study included 54 children with CP who were hospitalized for rehabilitation in Ankara Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Pediatric Clinic; and their mothers. Mean age of the children was 7.05±2.40 years and 36 children (66.7%) were spastic, 6 (11.1%) dyskinetic, 5 (9.3%) ataxic, and 7 (13%) mix type. Disability levels were assessed by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and anxiety levels by three dimensions of “Anxiety Level Meaurement Tool”. According to GMFCS, 12 (22.2%) children were in Level I, 9 (16.7%) in Level II, 8 (14.8%) in Level III, 17 (31.5%) in Level IV, and 8 (14.8%) in Level V. There was significant correlation between disability levels and the personal problems of family members dimension (p<0.05), while no correlation was found between personal problems of disabled children and family members dimension. It is a reality that anxiety and stress in family members cause impairment in the quality of life of their children and limit achieving rehabilitation targets. Determination of social and psychological problems of families who have children with CP and proposals of solution will affect the success of rehabilitation in children with CP.

Keywords: Serebral paralizi, kaygı, anne, özürlü çocuk, Cerebral palsy, anxiety, mother, disabled child