Maternal Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Community-Based Support Program for Families of Children With Chronic Illnesses

Abstract

A family support intervention can have beneficial effects on the mental health status of mothers of children with chronic illnesses. This type of intervention can be implemented in diverse pediatric settings.

Managing childhood chronic illness: Parent perspectives and implications for parent-provider relationships.

“…If their peers are managing, parents feel a sense of empowerment regarding their own capacity to cope. Past research corroborates that peer support increases parents' acceptance of their situation and their belief in their ability to cope (Ireys, Chernoff, DeVet, & Kim, 2001;Ireys, Chernoff, Stein, DeVet, & Silver, 2001;Schunk, 1987;Singer et al, 1999). Our data are consistent with this view.…”

Helping Other Mothers Effectively Work At Raising Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes

“…These findings support empirical evidence that links social support to improved parental well-being, especially during the crisis of having a child newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 8 This evidence supports the hypothesis that enhancing parental social support can lessen parental concern, worry, distress, and strain; increase parental confidence; affect perceived impact of the chronic illness on the family; and potentially have direct and indirect effects on child adjustment. Although the present study did not have the statistical power to detect significant relationships among social support and parent and child variables, these preliminary findings suggest the importance of continuing this line of investigation.…”

Children with special health care needs and mothers' anxiety/depression: Findings from the Tokyo Teen Cohort study

“…Among CSHCN group, social support satisfaction significantly mediated the relationship between the total number of positive CSHCN Screener criteria and severity of mothers' anxiety/ depression. Previous studies indicated that many factors could be related to caregivers' stress, 7,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] while in this study, social support was most effective in relieving mothers' anxiety/depression. As a specific mediator, social support in various tangible and intangible forms, such as emotional and informational, is known to make recipients feel worthwhile and part of their community.…”