Gender differences in adapting to a child's chronic illness: a causal model

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Family Studies
• Pediatric Health

Background:

• Parental adaptation to a child's chronic illness (CI) is complex.
• Understanding gender differences in parental adaptation is crucial for targeted support.
• The Double ABCX Model provides a framework for analyzing family adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential impact of a child's chronic illness on fathers and mothers.
• To identify psychosocial variables influencing parental adaptation.
• To assess the suitability of the Double ABCX Model in predicting parental adaptation to CI.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative study involving 80 fathers and 80 mothers of children with chronic illnesses.
• Utilized eight validated questionnaires to assess psychosocial variables.
• Employed path analysis to examine relationships between variables and adaptation.

Main Results:

• Path analysis revealed both similarities and differences in adaptation between fathers and mothers.
• Social support and coping behaviors emerged as key predictors of parental adaptation for both genders.
• The Double ABCX Model demonstrated moderate effectiveness in explaining parental adaptation to CI.

Conclusions:

• Parental adaptation to a child's chronic illness is influenced by social support and coping mechanisms.
• Gender-specific factors contribute to variations in parental adaptation.
• The Double ABCX Model offers a valuable framework for understanding and supporting families navigating childhood chronic illness.