The psychological costs of comparisons: Parents' social comparison moderates the links between family management of epilepsy and children's outcomes

Impact of social comparison on perceived online academic futility: A perspective from parents

In response to the wide-ranging concern of online academic futility, the current study aimed to explore the independent variables and mediating variable from a novel perspective of parents during COVID-19. Based on the social comparison theory and the control-value theory of achievement emotions, social comparison and tutoring anxiety were incorporated into an integrated model as predictors and mediator, respectively. A total of 300 parents completed an online survey. The results of the structural equation modeling indicated that upward social comparison and downward social comparison were both positively related to tutoring anxiety, which in turn positively predicted perceived online academic futility. Notably, tutoring anxiety played a significant mediating role in the association between different social comparison and perceived online academic futility. These results highlight the consistent predictive effect of upward social comparison and downward social comparison on perceived online academic futility, shedding light on the roles of tutoring anxiety in explaining the relationship from parental perspectives.

Tracing the Use of the Family Management Framework and Measure: A Scoping Review

This article reports the results of a scoping review of research applications of the Family Management Style Framework (FMSF) and the Family Management Measure (FaMM). We identified 32 studies based on the FMSF and 41 studies in which the FaMM was used, 17 of which were based on the FMSF. Both the framework and measure have been used by investigators in multiple countries, with most applications of the FaMM outside the United States. Although the FMSF and FaMM were originally developed for use with families in which there was a child with a chronic physical condition, both have been applied to a broader range of health conditions and to studies focusing on families with an adult member facing a health challenge. Based on our findings, we make recommendations for how researchers can more fully address all aspects of the FMSF.

Measurement of Family Management in Families of Individuals With Down Syndrome: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability worldwide. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the internal consistency reliability of eight language versions of the Family Management Measure (FaMM) and compare family management of DS across cultures. A total of 2,740 parents of individuals with DS from 11 countries completed the FaMM. The analysis provided evidence of internal consistency reliability exceeding .70 for four of six FaMM scales for the entire sample. Across countries, there was a pattern of positive family management. Cross-cultural comparisons revealed parents from Brazil, Spain, and the United States had the most positive family management and respondents from Ireland, Italy, Japan, and Korea had the least positive. The rankings were mixed for the four remaining countries. These findings provide evidence of overall strong internal consistency reliability of the FaMM. More cross-cultural research is needed to understand how social determinants of health influence family management in families of individuals with DS.

Association Between Caregivers' Family Management and Quality of Life in Children with Chronic Disease in Southern Thailand

PURPOSE

Caring for children with chronic diseases, caregivers have to manage their child's daily life to prevent complications and improve their quality of life. This study investigated family management of children with chronic diseases, quality of life of children, and correlation between family management of caregivers and quality of life of children as perceived by the caregivers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study collected data from 200 pairs of caregivers and children with asthma, anemia, and thalassemia aged 5 to 12 years after receiving treatment and follow-up in the pediatric outpatient department of the tertiary hospital, June to November 2020. Research instruments comprised a Family Management Measure (FaMM) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0). Data were analyzed using descriptive and Spearman rank correlation coefficient statistics.

RESULTS

The caregivers of children obtained a mean score on family management of 166.88 (S.D.= 11.32). The quality of life of children with chronic illness had a mean score of 66.59 (S.D.= 18.63). Correlation analysis revealed that easy family management of the caregivers had a positive correlation with the quality of life of children with chronic diseases. On the contrary, difficulty in family management negatively correlated with the quality of life of the children.

CONCLUSION

Most caregivers could have easy family management in caring for the children. In summary, easy family management will allow children with chronic illness to receive decent care from their caregivers, contributing to improved quality of life.

Clinical application of the PedsQL Epilepsy Module (PedsQL-EM) in an ambulatory pediatric epilepsy setting

INTRODUCTION

Children with epilepsy report lower health-related quality of life (QOL) compared with healthy children and those with other chronic disorders. This study piloted the recently published Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Epilepsy Module (PedsQL-EM) in an ambulatory setting and studied epilepsy-related factors contributing to QOL in children with epilepsy.

METHODS

Children with epilepsy aged 8-18 years who were ambulant and verbal were recruited from pediatric neurology clinics. Children and their caregivers completed age-appropriate versions of the PedsQL-EM (8-12 or 13-18 years) in the clinic waiting area. Treating neurologists completed medical questionnaires about their patients' epilepsy.

RESULTS

We collected 151 parent-report and 127 self-report PedsQL-EMs. Administration time was 5-10 min with some children receiving assistance from the researcher. Mean age of children was 12.9+/-3.0, with 77 females (51%). Parents reported lower mean QOL scores across all subdomains compared with their children. Parents reported significantly lower QOL for children with earlier age at epilepsy onset, longer epilepsy duration, presence of seizures during the last month, more severe epilepsy, increased number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and cognitive comorbidity. The same factors impacted on child self-reporting, but with more variability across subdomains.

CONCLUSIONS

The PedsQL-EM is an epilepsy-specific measure of QOL that is quick and easy to administer and is sensitive to the clinical factors reported to impact on QOL in pediatric epilepsy.

Family Management Style as a Mediator between Parenting Stress and Quality of Life of Children with Epilepsy

PURPOSE

To examine the possible relationship between parenting stress and quality of life of children with epilepsy together with the mediating effects of family management styles on this relationship.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a descriptive and exploratory study using data of participants were 93 parents with an epileptic child. Instruments were self-reported questionnaires including the Korean version of the Quality of Life (QOL) in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (K-QOLCE), the Korean version of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and the Korean version of the Family Management Measure (FaMM). Six domains of FaMM were clustered into two domains: easy or difficult family management styles. Descriptive and Pearson correlation path analyses were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The direct effects of PSI on QOL were not significant (b = -0.21, t = -0.94, p = .349). Indirect effects of PSI through easy family management styles on QOL were significant (b = -0.33, 95% CI = [-0.77, -0.05]). Additionally, two other effects (i.e., indirect effects through difficult family management styles and direct effects) were non-significant. All effects of PSI on QOL were fully mediated through easy family management styles.

CONCLUSION

Easy family management styles are the most important factor in predicting QOL in childhood epilepsy patients.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Comprehensive intervention programs are recommended for parents and families of epileptic children to promote positive perceptions of the child's life and to increase parental management ability of the child's condition and parental mutuality.