Examination of parent-child adjustment in juvenile rheumatic diseases using depression-specific indices of parent and youth functioning.

Studies demonstrate a link between parental distress, youth illness appraisals, and depression symptoms in youth with juvenile rheumatic diseases. However, the exclusive use of broadband (i.e. general) measures of parental distress in these studies has resulted in conceptual and clinical imprecision regarding the parent-child adjustment process. Our aim was to reanalyze previously published data (i.e. Wagner et al., 2003) using a depression-specific scale derived from the general adult distress measure in the original study. Parents completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), youth completed the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Illness Intrusiveness Scale (IIS-C). Thirteen Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) depression-specific items from the BSI comprised the parent measure of Depressive Symptoms Scale (DS). Consistent with Wagner et al. (2003), adult DS scores were associated with youth CDI scores. However, youth illness appraisals had unique effects on the parent-child depression relation. Elevated youth perceptions of illness intrusiveness amplified the negative effect of parent depressive symptoms on youth depressive symptoms; decreased illness intrusiveness buffered the negative effect of parent depression. The empirical and clinical implications of assessing parent and youth adjustment in a domain-specific manner are discussed.

Differences in sleep quality and health-related quality of life in young adults with allergies and asthma and their healthy peers.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the relationship between sleep quality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 501 undergraduate students with allergies (167), asthma + allergies (167), or with no history of a chronic illness (167) completed study measures from August 2011 to April 2012. METHODS: The undergraduate students completed questionnaires online as part of a larger study of psychosocial adjustment of young adults. RESULTS: Young adults with allergies and asthma + allergies reported significantly worse sleep quality and HRQOL than healthy peers. Additionally, those with allergies and asthma + allergies had significantly more sleep disturbances and used sleeping medication significantly more often in the previous month than healthy peers. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight concerns regarding quality of life and sleep problems in an often-overlooked population. Importantly, sleep difficulties can result in difficulties in daily living and impairment in academic functioning.

Caregiver demand and parent distress in juvenile rheumatic disease: the mediating effect of parent attitude toward illness.

Parents of youth with juvenile rheumatic diseases (JRD) often take on illness management responsibilities that can become burdensome, potentially resulting in poor parent adjustment outcomes. However, not all caregivers will experience increased distress as a result of variability in stress appraisals. The current study examined the role of parent illness attitudes in the relation between perceived caregiver demand and parental distress. Youth (N = 70) ages 7-18 years diagnosed with a JRD and their parents were recruited from a pediatric rheumatology clinic. Parents completed measures of caregiver demand, parental distress, and illness attitudes. Hierarchical regression revealed a relationship between caregiver demand and parental distress. A significant relationship was also found between caregiver demand and parent illness attitudes, as well as parent illness attitudes and parental distress. Thus, parent illness attitudes mediated the relationship between caregiver demand and parental distress. Techniques aimed at altering negative illness attitudes may help parents cope with their caregiving responsibilities.

Utility of the Illness Intrusiveness Scale in parents of children diagnosed with juvenile rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factor structure and convergent validity of the Illness Intrusiveness Scale--Parent Version in mother and fathers of children and adolescents ages 7 to 18 (M = 13.56 years, SD = 2.67) diagnosed with a juvenile rheumatic disease. DESIGN: Parents of 122 children and adolescents (82 girls, 40 boys) completed the Illness Intrusiveness Scale-Parent Version, and both parents and children and adolescents completed measures of functional disability, general distress, and illness uncertainty. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the Illness Intrusiveness Scale--Parent Version to identify the factor structure. The factors were then compared with parent- and child-report measures of functional disability, general distress, and uncertainty. Finally, analyses were conducted to determine whether the magnitude of the correlations was significantly different between factors for parents and children and adolescents. RESULTS: The Illness Intrusiveness Scale--Parent Version was found to have a two-factor structure. The Relationships/Personal Development factor contained items related to self-fulfillment and interactions with others, and the Instrumental factor contained items related to health and work. These factors were found to have good internal consistency and were significantly correlated with measures of parent-reported functional disability and parent- and youth-reported distress and uncertainty. The magnitude of these correlations was also found to differ depending on informant and outcome measure. CONCLUSION: The Illness Intrusiveness Scale--Parent Version appears to be a valid measure for use in parents of children with juvenile rheumatic disease.

The association of illness uncertainty to parent and youth adjustment in juvenile rheumatic diseases: effect of youth age.

OBJECTIVE: : This study sought to examine the differential effect of youth age on the association between parental uncertainty and both parent distress and youth depressive symptoms within the context of juvenile rheumatic disease. METHOD: : The sample comprised 51 youth aged 9 to 17 years diagnosed with a juvenile rheumatic disease and their parents. Youth completed a measure of depressive symptoms (i.e., Children's Depression Inventory); parents completed measures of illness uncertainty (i.e., Parental Perceptions of Uncertainty Scale) and parental distress (i.e., Brief Symptom Inventory). RESULTS: : Parental uncertainty demonstrated a significant main effect on both parent distress and youth depressive symptoms. However, these main effects were qualified by significant parental uncertainty × youth age interactions. Parental uncertainty was significantly related to parent distress for both younger and older youth but was only significantly related to youth depressive symptoms in the sample of older youth. CONCLUSION: : Parental uncertainty due to illness seems to be more predictive of both parent and youth distress with increasing youth age. These findings indicate that the impact of parental illness uncertainty on adjustment outcomes is pronounced as children transition into developmental periods of increasing autonomy and independence.

Influences on adherence to pediatric asthma treatment: a review of correlates and predictors.

Nonadherence to treatment is an important influence on the health outcomes of children and adolescents with pediatric asthma, which is the most prevalent childhood chronic illness. Because the factors that influence treatment adherence for pediatric asthma are not well understood, a comprehensive review of relevant research is needed. To address this need, research concerning the correlates and predictors of adherence to inhaled corticosteroid treatment for pediatric asthma was reviewed. Significant predictors and correlates of treatment adherence identified in this review were consistent with a conceptual model that included family demographic characteristics and functioning, parent and child characteristics, health care system and provider characteristics, and child health outcomes. Family functioning and parental beliefs about asthma and medication treatment demonstrated consistent relationships with treatment adherence. Future research should test multivariate models of influences on treatment adherence in pediatric asthma in prospective studies using reliable and valid measures of predictors and outcomes. Intervention studies are also needed that target potentially modifiable, empirically supported influences to enhance treatment adherence. The clinical management of pediatric asthma would be enhanced by routine assessment of barriers to treatment adherence and anticipatory interventions that address them to prevent nonadherence.