Psychological Adjustment Of Parents Of Children With Chronic Disease

The aim of this study was to explore differences between mothers and fathers of healthy children and mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy, with respect specifically to factors relevant to the risk and resistance model of adjustment to chronic disorders (Wallander and Varni, 1998). The study participants involved two samples. The clinical group comprised parents of 77 preschool and school age children with cerebral palsy (59 married couples and 18 single parents). Parents of 108 healthy children comprised the control group (90 married couples and 18 single parents). All parents completed a range of questionnaires intended to measure relevant risk and resistance factors and various aspects of parental adjustment. The results showed that mothers of children with cerebral palsy experienced more intensive parental stress (risk factor), have more pronounced neuroticism, perceive lower quality of their marriage and less family cohesion and adaptability, have a less available social network, show greater need for social support, and use more avoidant coping strategies (resistance factors) in comparison with mothers of healthy children. Mothers of children with cerebral palsy have more pronounced psychical symptoms in comparison with mothers of healthy children (adjustment). Fathers of children with cerebral palsy experience more intensive parental stress (risk factor), have less pronounced extroversion and greater need for social support (resistance factors), and have more pronounced psychical symptoms (adjustment) than fathers of healthy children.