Factors associated with the adaptation of parents with a chronically ill child

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the adaptation of parents who have a child with a chronic condition and some factors connected to it. Data were collected by a questionnaire from 189 parents who had a child with a chronic condition, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or asthma. Most (85%) of the responses were from mothers. The data were analysed using factor analysis. A four-factor model turned out to describe best the adaptation of the parents and their coping with the care of a chronically ill child. Two factors showed good adaptation and two poor adaptation. Emotional and instrumental support were connected to adaptation on each of the four factors. Support from health care staff and the parents' need to obtain more information were not connected to adaptation as clearly as emotional and instrumental support. Parents wished for support more in families where the child was under nine years old than in families where the child was over nine years old.