Prediction of depression in parents of Turner Syndrome adolescents as a function of growth hormones, family conflict, and coping style

Abstract

We investigated differences in parents' adjustment (depression) to their daughter's Turner Syndrome as a function of parent coping style, family conflict, and growth hormone. Forty-four mothers and fathers of adolescents with Turner Syndrome (taking and not taking growth hormone) served as subjects. Parents independently completed the Family Environment Scale, the Ways of Coping Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Regression analyses revealed that mothers who utilized wishful thinking as a coping style and who did not have daughters receiving growth hormone reported more symptoms of depression than those mothers who did not have this coping style and daughters taking growth hormone. However, for fathers, neither growth hormone nor wishful thinking accounted for any variance in their depression scores. Family conflict did not contribute to depression scores for mothers or fathers. Variations in parent adjustment were attributed to differing roles parents have in caretaking the pediatric patient as well as divergent coping styles. The tendency for parents to infantalize their adolescents with Turner Syndrome may explain the lack of relationship between family conflict and parental report of depression.