62 THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC CHILDHOOD ILLNESS ON THE MOTHER'S PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT

Abstract

There are conflicting data regarding the impact of chronic childhood illness on the family unit in general and more particularly on the mother's psychological adjustment (MPA). In spite of evidence that the burden of care of the child falls predominantly on the mother, there are few analyses of the effects of the child's illness on mother's mental health using sound measures. Data from a study of 219 inner-city children with chronic illness indicate that there is no relation (tau-b=.01) between the burden of the child's condition as reported by the provider and MPA. There is, however, a significant (p<.001) but modest association (tau-b=.21) between the child's functional status and MPA. Additionally the effects of the child's condition are minimized by the presence of various social and demographic characteristics including health insurance, social supports, absence of other stressors, and the presence of more than one adult in the home. The absence of these positive characteristics appears to exacerbate the situation and produce significant and moderately severe mental health deficits for the mother (as high as tau-b=.46). Such analyses can be helpful to clinicians interested in identifying characteristics of families which predict the need for further intervention to maximize the functioning of individual family members and minimize secondary sequalae of chronic illness. The results also suggest kinds of interventions which may be helpful.

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