Adolescent self-perceptions of adjustment to childhood arthritis: the influence of disease activity, family resources, and parent adjustment.

Abstract

To examine the influence of illness parameters, adolescent support resources, and parental adjustment on the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with arthritis. A sample of 57 adolescents with childhood arthritis, 50 of their mothers, and 40 of their fathers completed paper-and-pencil measures of: (a) perceptions of the severity of the adolescent's illness, (b) social support and family functioning, and (c) adolescent depression and global self-worth. Participants were predominantly white and upper middle class. Data were analyzed using multiple regression strategies. Adolescent perceptions of family functioning and social support were significant predictors of both global self-worth and depression in regression analyses. Additionally, greater functional limitations because of arthritis were predictive of adolescent depression. Family functioning was significantly associated with adolescent adjustment across different conceptulaizations and measures of adjustment.