Family values vs parental involvement in families with a chronically ill child

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the differences in family values and parental involvement in groups of parents raising a chronically ill child and a healthy child. In addition, it was checked whether family values allow predicting parental involvement. Method: The study was conducted using the CAWI method in a group of 160 adults, of whom 64 (40%) had a chronically ill child. Research tools with good psychometric properties were used: Familism Scale, Parental Involvement Questionnaire and a questionnaire. Results: It was found that mothers and fathers raising a chronically ill child achieved a statistically significantly higher intensity of the value expressed in striving for independence and self-sufficiency than parents of healthy children. Mothers raising a chronically ill child obtained statistically significantly higher scores in terms of general, valence and behavioural parental involvement than mothers raising a healthy child. Fathers raising a chronically ill child were characterized by lower scores in terms of general parental involvement, cognitive-emotional and behavioural involvement. In the group of parents raising a healthy child, as the value emphasizing the importance of material achievements increased, the intensity of the general parental involvement variable decreased. Conclusions: The results of the study complement the existing knowledge on selected psychological conditions of chronically ill children’s parents’ functioning.