Applying the Transactional Stress and Coping Model to Sickle Cell Disorder and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: Identifying Psychosocial Variables Related to Adjustment and Intervention

The Association Between Caregiver Coping and Youth Clinic Attendance and Health-related Quality of Life in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

Caregivers of youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) influence the youth disease management and psychosocial outcomes. Effective caregiver coping is important for improving disease management and outcomes since caregivers often report high disease-related parenting stress. This study characterizes caregiver coping and examines its relation to youth clinic nonattendance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Participants were 63 youth with SCD and their caregivers. Caregivers completed the Responses to Stress Questionnaire-SCD module to assess primary control engagement (PCE; attempts to change stressors or reactions to stress), secondary control engagement (SCE; strategies to adapt to stress), and disengagement (avoidance) coping. Youth with SCD completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-SCD module. Medical records were reviewed for the hematology appointment nonattendance rates. Coping factors were significantly different ( F [1.837, 113.924]=86.071, P <0.001); caregivers reported more PCE ( M =2.75, SD =0.66) and SCE ( M =2.78, SD =0.66) than disengagement ( M =1.75, SD =0.54) coping. Responses to short-answer questions corroborated this pattern. Greater caregiver PCE coping was associated with lower youth nonattendance (β=-0.28, P =0.050), and greater caregiver SCE coping was related to higher youth HRQOL (β=0.28, P =0.045). Caregiver coping is related to improved clinic attendance and HRQOL in pediatric SCD. Providers should assess caregiver coping styles and consider encouraging engagement coping.

Relationship between Diabetes Family Conflicts or Problem Recognition in Illness Self-Management and Quality of Life of Adolescents with T1DM and Their Parents

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between diabetes family conflicts or problem recognition in illness self-management (PRISM) and the parental perceived quality of life (QoL) of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their parents. This was a cross-sectional study, and the participants comprised 111 parents of type 1 diabetes adolescents; data were collected via an online survey and analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis using the IBM SPSS 25.0 program. The explanatory power of the QoL model in parents of adolescents with T1DM, constructed using three variables—diabetes family conflict (B = −0.56), regimen pain and bother (B = −11.25), and peer interactions (B = −7.48), which are PRISM barriers—was 35.7% (F = 5.70, p < 0.001). Diabetes family conflicts (B = −0.86) and peer interactions (B = −9.04) explained 57.3% of the variance in the parental perceived QoL of adolescents with T1DM (F = 12.33, p < 0.001). In order to improve the QoL in parents and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, interventions to effectively manage diabetes family conflicts and improve peer interactions are necessary.

Parent mental health and family functioning following diagnosis of CHD: a research agenda and recommendations from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative

Diagnosis of CHD substantially affects parent mental health and family functioning, thereby influencing child neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes. Recognition of the need to proactively support parent mental health and family functioning following cardiac diagnosis to promote psychosocial adaptation has increased substantially over recent years. However, significant gaps in knowledge remain and families continue to report critical unmet psychosocial needs. The Parent Mental Health and Family Functioning Working Group of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative was formed in 2018 through support from an R13 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to identify significant knowledge gaps related to parent mental health and family functioning, as well as critical questions that must be answered to further knowledge, policy, care, and outcomes. Conceptually driven investigations are needed to identify parent mental health and family functioning factors with the strongest influence on child outcomes, to obtain a deeper understanding of the biomarkers associated with these factors, and to better understand how parent mental health and family functioning influence child outcomes over time. Investigations are also needed to develop, test, and implement sustainable models of mental health screening and assessment, as well as effective interventions to optimise parent mental health and family functioning to promote psychosocial adaptation. The critical questions and investigations outlined in this paper provide a roadmap for future research to close gaps in knowledge, improve care, and promote positive outcomes for families of children with CHD.

Self-efficacy, relationship satisfaction, and social support: the quality of life of maternal caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVES

To examine maternal functioning and wellbeing as important aspects of a family's adaptation to chronic paediatric conditions, in particular, children with diabetes.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study investigated the difference between the perceived quality of life of mothers of children with diabetes (n = 63) and mothers of children without diabetes (n = 114). The study also examined the role of self-efficacy, relationship satisfaction, number of social support providers, and satisfaction with social support in predicting quality of life.

RESULTS

Mothers who had a child with diabetes had lower quality of life measured by general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health than mothers that did not have a child with diabetes. Self-efficacy, relationship satisfaction, and social support were significant predictors of quality of life (mental health domain).

CONCLUSION

In order to enhance their psychological wellbeing, mothers of children with diabetes require adequate psychosocial support. Other implications for research and potential interventions are discussed.

The Child Illness and Resilience Program (CHiRP): a study protocol of a stepped care intervention to improve the resilience and wellbeing of families living with childhood chronic illness

Background

Families of children living with chronic illness are more vulnerable to mental health problems, however this can be ameliorated by a family’s resilience. The Child Illness and Resilience Program (CHiRP) will develop and evaluate a parent-focussed family intervention designed to increase the resilience and wellbeing of families living with childhood chronic illness.

Methods/Design

The study will be conducted in an Australian regional paediatric hospital and will use a stepped care intervention that increases in intensity according to parental distress. All parents of children discharged from the hospital will receive a family resilience and wellbeing factsheet (Step 1). Parents of children attending selected outpatient clinics will receive a family resilience and wellbeing activity booklet (Step 2). Parents who receive the booklet and report psychological distress at three-month follow-up will be randomised to participate in a family resilience information support group or waitlist control (Step 3). The Step 3 control group will provide data to compare the relative effectiveness of the booklet intervention alone versus the booklet combined with the group intervention for distressed parents. These participants will then receive the information support group intervention. All parents in Step 2 and 3 will complete baseline, post-intervention and six month follow up assessments. The primary outcomes of the study will be changes in scores between baseline and follow-up assessments on measures of constructs of family resilience, including parental wellbeing, family functioning, family beliefs and perceived social support. Qualitative feedback regarding the utility and acceptability of the different intervention components will also be collected.

Discussion

It is hypothesised that participation in the CHiRP intervention will be associated with positive changes in the key outcome measures. If effective, CHiRP will provide an opportunity for the health sector to deliver a standardised stepped care mental health promotion intervention to families living with childhood chronic illness.

Trial registration

Australian clinical Trials Registry ACTRN 12613000844741

Universal Trial Number (UTN): 1111-1142-8829

Personality and self-esteem in emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined (1) mean-level differences in self-esteem and Big Five personality traits between individuals with and without diabetes; and (2) demographic, clinical, and psychological correlates of patients' self-esteem and Big Five.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 478 emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes (18-35 years old) were selected from the Belgian Diabetes Registry and completed questionnaires on personality, self-esteem, and diabetes-related distress. The control group consisted of 341 healthy participants who were matched (1:1) on sex and age with the patient group.

RESULTS

First, mean-level differences between patients and controls differed according to patients' sex and illness duration. Women with diabetes reported lower self-esteem and were less extraverted and emotionally stable as compared to female controls. In contrast, men with diabetes reported higher self-esteem and were more agreeable but less emotionally stable as compared to male controls. Furthermore, whereas both patients with shorter and longer illness duration were less extraverted and emotionally stable as compared to controls, only patients with longer illness duration reported heightened agreeableness. Second, self-esteem and Big Five were found to relate to patients' sex and (to a lesser extent) age and illness duration. Finally, patients reporting elevated diabetes-related distress reported lower self-esteem, and were less agreeable and emotionally stable as compared to patients not reporting such distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' personality and self-esteem might be important targets for future prevention and intervention efforts. The present findings can assist healthcare professionals in identifying those patients who might benefit the most from such programs.

Stress in Adolescents with a Chronically Ill Parent: Inspiration from Rolland's Family Systems-Illness Model

This article was inspired by Rolland's Family Systems-Illness (FSI) model, aiming to predict adolescent stress as a function of parental illness type. Ninety-nine parents with a chronic medical condition, 82 partners, and 158 adolescent children (51 % girls; mean age = 15.1 years) participated in this Dutch study. The Dutch Stress Questionnaire for Children was used to measure child report of stress. Ill parents completed the Beck Depression Inventory. Children filled in a scale of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment measuring the quality of parent attachment. Both parents filled in the Parent-Child-Interaction Questionnaire-Revised. We conducted multilevel regression analyses including illness type, the ill parent's depressive symptoms, family functioning (quality of marital relationship, parent-child interaction, and parent attachment), and adolescents' gender and age. Four regression analyses were performed separately for each illness type as defined by disability (Model 1), and onset (Model 2), course (Model 3), and outcome of illness (Model 4). In all models, higher adolescent stress scores were linked to lower quality of parent-child interaction and parent attachment, and adolescents' female gender. The four models explained approximately 37 % of the variance in adolescent stress between individuals and 43-44 % of the variance in adolescent stress between families. Adolescent stress was not related to parental illness type. Our results partially supported the FSI model stating that family functioning is essential in point of child adjustment to parental illness. In the chronic stage of parental illness, adolescent stress does not seem to vary depending on illness type.

The mediating effects of family functioning on psychosocial outcomes in healthy siblings of children with sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND

Children with siblings coping with chronic illness experience stresses and disruptions in daily life as families work together to care for the affected child. Research suggests that children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be at risk for adjustment problems, impaired psychosocial functioning, and reduced quality of life. These potential stressors affect the child with SCD as well as their caregivers and other family members. This study examined the role of family functioning on the psychosocial functioning of healthy siblings of children with SCD.

PROCEDURE

Participants were 65 healthy African-American siblings of children with SCD with a mean age of 11.19 years (range: 7-16) and their primary caregiver. Caregivers completed questionnaires assessing family functioning and child adjustment including demographic surveys, the Family Relations Scale (FRS), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

RESULTS

Increased number of emergency room visits (β = -0.28, P < 0.05) predicted poor psychosocial adjustment in siblings. Family functioning mediated this effect (β = 0.27; P < 0.05). High levels of family expressiveness (total score, r = -0.34; P < 0.01), support (total score, r = -0.54; P = 0.001), and low levels of family conflict (total score, r = 0.41; P < 0.001) were associated with improved adjustment among healthy siblings of children with SCD.

CONCLUSIONS

Awareness of the possible negative psychosocial outcomes of living with a sister or a brother with SCD is important for clinicians. In particular, interventions that focus on family expressiveness, support, and conflict are indicated for this population.

Disability among individuals with sickle cell disease: literature review from a public health perspective

CONTEXT

Young people with blood disorders face challenges in maintaining their physical health as they age. Sickle cell disease has well-documented complications in various organ systems. Increasingly, professionals, consumers, and advocates involved in blood disorders are concerned about the cumulative and ongoing effect of organ-specific complications on function and participation.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Publications were identified that looked at the relationship between sickle cell disease and associated impairments and restrictions in participation as defined by the International Classification of Function, Disability, and Health (ICF).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

This article organizes a literature review in PubMed using ICF terms that define functional limitations and participation restrictions in sickle cell disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with sickle cell disease experience complications in multiple organ systems that affect related functions and, consequently, participation in community living. The effects begin early in childhood and accumulate across the life course into adulthood. Intervention research is needed to understand how contextual factors can promote optimal function and participation in the face of mounting impairments.

A conceptual model of childhood adaptation to type 1 diabetes

The Childhood Adaptation Model to Chronic Illness: Diabetes Mellitus was developed to identify factors that influence childhood adaptation to type 1 diabetes (T1D). Since this model was proposed, considerable research has been completed. The purpose of this article is to update the model on childhood adaptation to T1D using research conducted since the original model was proposed. The framework suggests that, in individuals and families, characteristics such as age and socioeconomic status as well as the individuals' and families' responses (self-management, coping, self-efficacy, family functioning, social competence) influence the level of adaptation; in children with T1D, characteristics such as treatment modality (pump vs injections) and psychosocial responses (depressive symptoms and anxiety) also influence the level of adaptation. Adaptation has both physiologic (metabolic control) and psychosocial (Quality of Life [QOL]) components. This revised model provides greater specificity to the factors that influence adaptation to chronic illness in children. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

A pilot study of observed parenting and adjustment in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their mothers

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the association of observed parenting behaviors with adjustment in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their mothers.

METHODS

Adolescents with T1D (n = 30) and their mothers provided data on psychosocial adjustment and engaged in a discussion task about diabetes stress, which was coded for parenting behavior. Clinical data (i.e., HbA1c) was obtained from adolescents' medical records.

RESULTS

Mothers' symptoms of anxiety and depression were related to lower levels of child-centered parenting. Higher levels of observed child-centered parenting and positive reinforcement and lower levels of maternal hostility and parental influence were related to better psychosocial adjustment in adolescents (i.e., fewer depressive symptoms, better quality of life) and better metabolic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Results support the use of observational data in this population and provide estimates of effect sizes between parenting variables, maternal and adolescent psychosocial adjustment, and metabolic control.

Practice parameter for the psychiatric assessment and management of physically ill children and adolescents

This practice parameter describes the psychiatric assessment and management of physically ill children and adolescents. It reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentation, assessment, and treatment of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents with physical illnesses and the environmental and social influences that can affect patient outcome.

Adaptation to living with a genetic condition or risk: a mini-review

One goal of genetic counseling is to facilitate client adaptation to a genetic condition or risk. Adaptation refers to both the process of coming to terms with the implications of the condition or risk and the observable outcomes of that process. This review summarizes existing studies on how well clients adapt to living with a common chronic disease, and more specifically, a genetic condition. Overall, it appears that about one-third of clients do not adjust well to the stress of living with a genetic condition or at risk. However, the data are limited by inconsistencies in the conceptualization of adaptation, a paucity of theoretical models, poor study design and inadequate outcome measures. Well-designed studies based upon multidimensional models are needed that focus on familial as well as individual adaptation. We conclude with a summary of studies that have explored the use of interventions to enhance adaptation and suggest improved client outcomes. Further research should result in evidence-based interventions to facilitate client adaptation that can be used effectively by genetic providers within the confines of their clinical work.