Stress, Coping, and Family Functioning in the Psychological Adjustment of Mothers of Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis

Authors:
  • KGKathryn E. Gustafson
    Kathryn E. Gustafson
  • KHKim W. Hamlett
    Kim W. Hamlett
  • ASAlexander Spock
    Alexander Spock
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Abstract
Assessed the role of illness parameters, demographic parameters, and hypothesized psychosocial/mediational processes in the psychological adjustment of 68 mothers of children and adolescents (7–17 years of age) with cystic fibrosis. Together the illness and demographic parameters accounted for only 13–15% of the variance in maternal adjustment. However, the hypothesized meditaional processes accounted for 35–40% increment in the variance in maternal adjustment. More specifically, maternal adjustment was associated with lower levels of perceived daily stress, less use of palliative coping methods, and family functioning characterized by high levels of supportiveness.