Biopsychosocial Factors Associated with Parenting Stress in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

• Authors: Yelena L Johnson, Childrens Healthcare Atlanta; Kerri Woodward, Childrens Healthcare Atlanta; Carlton Dampier, Emory University; Lindsey Cohen, Georgia State University; Soumitri Sil, Emory University
• Journal Title: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN MEDICAL SETTINGS
• Volume: Volume 29, Number 2
• Publisher: SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS | 2022-01-07, Pages 365-374
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-021-09837-6
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Psychology, General; Health Sciences, Mental Health
• Keywords: Social Sciences; Psychology, Clinical; Psychology; Pediatric; Sickle cell disease; Parenting stress; Distress; Chronic illness; Psychosocial; EMERGENCY-DEPARTMENT VISITS; HEALTH SURVEY SF-36; HOME MANAGEMENT; CHILDREN; ADOLESCENTS; FAMILY; PAIN; CAREGIVERS; OUTCOMES; ILLNESS

Abstract

Caregivers of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience significant physical and emotional hardship with their child’s disease management. Little is known about the potential contributors to parenting stress in pediatric SCD. The present study aimed to identify child and caregiver biopsychosocial factors associated with disease-related parenting stress in pediatric SCD. Participants included 74 caregiver-youth dyads. Parenting stress was associated with increased child pain frequency, more missed school days, and increased healthcare utilization, and inversely correlated with caregiver mental health and social-emotional functioning. Parenting stress also partially explained the relationship between child pain frequency and healthcare utilization after controlling for parent depression and anxiety. Parenting stress may play a unique and critical role in pediatric SCD and underscore the impact parenting stress may have on youth in medical and academic settings. Further research is warranted to determine risk factors and appropriate interventions for parenting stress to improve comprehensive patient care.