Locus of control, perceived parenting style, and anxiety in children with cerebral palsy

In this study we examined interrelations among locus of control (LOC), disease severity, anxiety, and parenting style (PS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Thirty children with CP and their 30 healthy siblings completed self-report measures of LOC, anxiety, and perceived PS of the mother. A neurological assessment determined severity of CP. Children with CP, regardless of severity, did not differ from their siblings in LOC, anxiety, or perceived PS. Multiple-regression analyses showed that LOC was predicted only by the acceptance/rejection dimension of PS in children with CP; whereas for their siblings, age, and anxiety were the best predictors. The findings suggest a central influence of the home environment on children's psychological development. For children with CP, experiencing parental acceptance may enhance development of resilience-related qualities, such as an internal LOC.