The Adjustment of Children and Parents to Chronic Hemodialysis

Abstract

The adjustment of 25 children, aged 8 to 17, of chronic dialysis patients was assessed by an interview, the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, and the Thematic Aperception Test (TAT). The adjustment of the parents was assessed by the Psychosocial Adjustment to Physical Illness Scale (PAIS) and by the Beck Depression Scale. A very strong relationship was found between the adjustment problems of patients and spouses. Furthermore the parents’ condition was found to influence very strongly the adjustment of the younger children but not that of adolescents.