The role of childhood illness in shaping relationships through to young adulthood

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Abstract
To explore how those with a physical illness in childhood are managing in relationships across childhood to young adulthood. On transition to primary school parents were asked about their child's physical health (n = 1895). Childhood health problems were classified using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) framework. Relational health was assessed using parent and self-reported measures. A total of 1347 parents reported their child had any physical illness between 5-8 years of age, with 143 reporting their child had been so ill they thought they might die. Having a childhood illness was associated with lower Self-control and Cooperation in both late childhood (|β| = -0.15 and -0.1, respectively) and adolescence (|β| = -0.14 and -0.12, respectively). For those reporting a health-related life-threatening experience, there was some evidence of higher disengagement across all age groups (|β|range = 0.20-0.24), and more pronounced problems with peers (|β|range = 0.31-0.41) and social skills (|β|range = 0.27-0.35) in late childhood. Children were generally faring well, however, there was elevated risk of a range of compromised relational difficulties for those with 'life-threatening' medical experiences. Risks mostly extended to late childhood; however, disengagement from parents extended into adolescence and young adulthood.
Funding Information
  • Australian Research Council (1082406)
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (DP130101459)

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