Psychological aspects of idiopathic scoliosis: the specificity of the mother-daughter relationship
Background. The relationship between teenager girls with idiopathic scoliosis and their mothers may be a source of mental strain during complex restorative treatment. Aim of the study. To assess the mother-daughter relationship of adolescent girls with severe idiopathic scoliosis. Materials and methods. The experimental group consisted of 30 women with teenager daughters diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis of the 4th degree. The control group included 30 women with teenager daughters with no orthopedic pathology. The questionnaire “Diagnostic of parental relationship” (Varga and Stolin) and the methodology “Teenagers on their parents” (Schafer, Mateychik, and Rzhichan) were used as research methods. Results and discussion. General and specific characteristics of the mother-daughter relationship in families of adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis and families of healthy girls were identified. Mothers of girls with idiopathic scoliosis and mothers of girls with o orthopedic disorder demonstrated a pronounced positive attitude to their daughters. Mothers of daughters with idiopathic scoliosis, in contrast to mothers of healthy daughters, were more likely to actively cooperate with their daughters in various aspects of life, including treatment. We investigated the mother-daughter relationship and how to assess this relationship with adolescent girls. Emotionally, non-judgmental acceptance of a daughter with severe idiopathic scoliosis is perceived by the daughter as the mother's desire for an emotionally close and trusting relationship. The attitude of the mother regarding an ill daughter as a failure will be perceived as hostility manifested as strict control by the mother. The mother's attitude to a healthy daughter manifesting as overprotection is perceived by adolescent girls as an authoritarian attitude by the mother. Conclusion: General and specific characteristics of the mother-daughter relationship in families of adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis and families of healthy adolescent girls were revealed. In the context of complex surgical treatment, preventive measures are necessary to address psychological difficulties in adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis.