Death Anxiety Perceived Parenting Maternal Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life among Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis Adolescents

Abstract

Aim: Death anxiety, which may arise from the anticipation of death, includes aspects such as fear of the death process. Death anxiety in adolescents with serious or terminal illnesses was generally studied with adolescents undergoing cancer treatment. However, there have been few studies in the literature on death anxiety and the factors that may influence it in adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. This study aims to compare death anxiety, perceived parenting, maternal psychiatric symptoms, and health-related quality of life in adolescents diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: The population of the study, which is a relational screening model, consisted of 19 adolescents with muscular dystrophy and 22 adolescents with multiple sclerosis, aged between 14-17, and their mothers. Data were collected through a brief symptom inventory, death anxiety scale, quality of life scale for children, and parental attitude inventory. ANOVA, chi-square, correlation, and regression analysis analyzed data. Results: It was found that adolescents with muscular dystrophy had higher death anxiety, lower quality of life, less psychological autonomy from their parents, and higher psychiatric symptoms of their mothers compared to adolescents with multiple sclerosis. It has been found that death anxiety is predicted by physical functionality, psychological autonomy, and the mother’s depressive symptoms. Conclusion: It’s essential to periodically evaluate the psychiatric symptoms of DMD’s mothers, especially the death anxiety symptoms of adolescents with DMD