Abstract
The current study sought to investigate differences in parenting capacity variables across four disease groups. Parents (N = 425), the majority of whom were mothers, of children with either cancer, asthma, Type 1 diabetes, or cystic fibrosis, completed
measures of parental overprotection, perceived child vulnerability, and parenting stress. After controlling for significant
demographic variables, parents of children with cystic fibrosis and asthma reported higher perceived child vulnerability than
parents of children with either diabetes or cancer, while parents of children with asthma and diabetes reported higher parenting
stress than parents of children with cancer or cystic fibrosis. No differences between disease groups were found for parental
overprotection. The current study provides support for an illness-specific approach to understanding parenting capacity variables
in the context of childhood chronic illnesses.
measures of parental overprotection, perceived child vulnerability, and parenting stress. After controlling for significant
demographic variables, parents of children with cystic fibrosis and asthma reported higher perceived child vulnerability than
parents of children with either diabetes or cancer, while parents of children with asthma and diabetes reported higher parenting
stress than parents of children with cancer or cystic fibrosis. No differences between disease groups were found for parental
overprotection. The current study provides support for an illness-specific approach to understanding parenting capacity variables
in the context of childhood chronic illnesses.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10880-010-9213-4
- Authors
- Stephanie E. Hullmann, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 North Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Cortney Wolfe-Christensen, Department of Psychiatry/Psychology, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI USA
- Jamie L. Ryan, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 North Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- David A. Fedele, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 North Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Philip L. Rambo, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 North Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- John M. Chaney, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 North Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Larry L. Mullins, Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 North Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Journal Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- Online ISSN 1573-3572
- Print ISSN 1068-9583