THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FAMILY SYSTEM RESPONSES TO THE PERCEIVED IMPACT OF CHRONIC ILLNESS WHICH PROMOTE ADAPTATION IN A CHILD WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS.
Contributors: University of Pennsylvania.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 167
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this research was to identify the relationships between family functioning, the family perception of the impact of the illness, and the child's adaptation. A causal model was developed from the Double ABCX Model of Family Adjustment and Adaptation. Path analysis was used to test the hypotheses derived from the model. The sample consisted of 61 families with a child diagnosed with spina bifida.

All of the variables were represented by mean family scores. Parents' scores were moderately correlated and paired t tests indicated no differences between parents reports. Analysis of the data indicated that the children demonstrated good general health, however, the children demonstrated more behavior problems, and less social competence than the general population. The families perceived less impact from the illness, and the families demonstrated better family functioning than other comparable samples.

The family perception of the impact of the illness and family functioning were hypothesized to moderate the effect of the child's functional status on adaptation. No such moderating effects were demonstrated. The functional status of the child directly influenced the child's social adaptation but not the child's behavioral adaptation. The child's social adaptation was directly effected by the family's perception of the impact of the illness. The child's behavioral adaptation was directly effected by the family level of functioning, and the family level of functioning was moderated by the family perception of the impact of the illness. The relationship between the family level of functioning and the family perception of the impact of the illness provided support for the concept of family coping as proposed in the Double ABCX Model. The absence of moderating effects by the family perception of the impact of the illness and the family level of functioning led to rejection of the model. Recommendations to strengthen the model were identified. Nursing interventions to enhance the child's adaptation and to support the family's efforts to cope were developed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-05, Section: B, page: 2249.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 1992.

School code: 0175.