Children with Chronic Illnesses: Parent Anxiety and Family Hardiness

This study provides information on factors related to parent anxiety and family hardiness for children with chronic illnesses. Participants were 44 parents of children with chronic illnesses, who were residing at a local Ronald McDonald House as their child was receiving care at a nearby hospital. Research assistants collected data on parent anxiety, coping strategies, and family functioning and hardiness. Results of a regression analysis (R2 = .30, p < .001), with parent anxiety as the dependent variable, indicated that parents who reported positive family functioning were likely to report lower anxiety than those reporting poorer family functioning (Standardized B = -.446, t = -2.710, p < .01). Family stressors and the number of medical problems for the child were not significantly related to parent anxiety. Results of another regression analysis (R2 = .41, p < .001) indicated that as the number of child medical problems increased family hardiness decreased (Standardized B = -.520, t = -4.26, p < .001). Conversely, parents endorsing a higher number of religious coping strategies provided more positive ratings than parents who reported fewer strategies (Standardized B = .321, t = 2.63, p = .012). Results of this study supported the idea that parental anxiety is related to perceptions of family functioning. Additionally, parents using religious coping strategies may perceive their family as more resilient than those who do not use such strategies. Finally, families with a child with multiple medical problems may benefit from additional supports as they cope with their child's conditions.