Abstract
AbstractThis study examined predictors of the psychological adjustment of mothers of adolescents and young adults with CF. In our sample of 51 mothers (mean age 48 years) with at least one child with CF, aged between 16 and 25 years, high levels of anxiety and depression were found. Illness representations, in particular perceptions of the cyclical nature of CF and emotional representations of CF, were significantly associated with maternal psychological distress. Mother’s work status was also found to be related to psychological adjustment. Mothers who had employment outside of the home were found to experience less psychological distress than mothers who did not work outside of the home. These findings have clinical implications for mothers of older children and young adults with CF. Annual screening of parental psychological adjustment is recommended. Interventions using extensions of cognitive behavioural therapy approaches to address negative illness perceptions may also have some utility for this po...
Highlights
In the last three decades, there have been significant improvements in the treatment of Cystic fibrosis (CF)
Our study extends the body of research examining both adjustment of parents of older children with CF and the body of research examining illness perceptions and their ability to predict psychological adjustment of caregivers
To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the utility of illness perceptions, child’s lung functioning, and maternal employment ratings in predicting psychological distress of mothers of adolescents and young adults with CF
Summary
In the last three decades, there have been significant improvements in the treatment of Cystic fibrosis (CF). These changes have increased the lifespan of affected individuals from their early teens to 50 years and beyond (Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Association, 2008). Kaya Beinke, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who specialises in working with children and families and who supervises postgraduate research students at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Queensland. O’Callaghan, PhD, MAPS, is an associate professor and undergraduate programme convenor in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Shirley Morrissey, PhD, FAPS, is an associate professor in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, Queensland
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