Anxiety, Coping and Social Support Among Parents Who Have Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Present study has been conducted to investigate anxiety levels, coping strategies, social support systems among parents who have children with chronic kidney disease and interrelations among the three indicators. Methods: This study has been planned among parents of 180 children with a chronic kidney disease being admitted to Hacettepe University, Children's Hospital, Nephrology Polyclinic. Sociodemographic information form, state & trait anxiety inventory and short form of the assessment scale for coping strategies have been employed as data gathering tools. Results: With respect to gender it was detected that mothers resorted to selfdistraction coping strategy and with respect to educational level, parents with no formal educational background resorted to denial. Trait anxiety score was the highest among parents whose children were in the second stage of disease. As the coping strategies among parents receiving social support in the treatment process was examined, it surfaced that positive reframing, acceptance, humor and use of emotional support and similar problem-focused coping strategies were more frequently opted for. Contrary to that, it was identified that among parents receiving no social support from their relatives, scores of self-blame, substance use and state anxiety were relatively higher. Conclusion: At the end of this study it was concluded that parents having children with a chronic kidney disease were more effective in utilizing social support mechanisms as a problem-focused coping strategy when compared to the other group of parents.

The Influence of Factors Such as Parenting Stress and Social Support on the State Anxiety in Parents of Special Needs Children During the COVID-19 Epidemic

“…Therefore, helping parents improve their sense of social support also helps reduce their parenting stress. Previous studies have explored the relationship between anxiety levels and social support for parents of children with chronic kidney disease ( Zengin et al, 2018 ) and parents of cancer children ( Bayat et al, 2008 ). Our findings are consistent with their findings, confirming that social support is a protective factor for excessive anxiety.…”

A serial mediating effect of perceived family support on psychological well-being

“…Children’s mental framework was affected by maternal and paternal warmth and hostility, thus affecting children’s executive ability [ 44 ]. Moreover, some results showed that among parents who have children with chronic kidney disease and patients who have multiple sclerosis, family social support help them to adaptation for a better quality of life [ 46 – 47 ]. The perception of selfless help and decision support from families increased the happiness of people, which also reflected the specific content of social support theory [ 13 ].…”

Mitigating the impact of family burden on psychological health in parents of children with special needs: Buffering effects of resilience and social support

“…Raising a child with special needs can be a stressful experience for some parents, and inadequate social support may exacerbate parental stress (Willner et al, 2020). In contrast, social support from family members, friends, and the community can help reduce parental anxiety (Zengin et al, 2018), increase parent–child interaction, and decrease depression (Green et al, 2007). Studies with families of children with special needs have reported that while the level of social support is generally above average, access to services and support related to health, transportation, and leisure activities is insufficient, and families face difficulties in social interaction in daily life (Rodrigues et al, 2019).…”