Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Paediatric parenting stress in inflammatory bowel disease: application of the Pediatric Inventory for Parents
S M Guilfoyle1, L A Denson, R N Baldassano
1Center for the Promotion of Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Insights
Caregivers of adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience low parenting stress, especially during inactive disease phases. Sociodemographic factors likely contribute to better stress management in these families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Psychosocial Health
- Chronic Disease Management
Background:
- Caregiver psychosocial functioning in adolescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is understudied.
- Poor caregiver functioning risks adolescent IBD management.
- This study examined parenting stress in caregivers of adolescents with IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- Document rates of pediatric parenting stress.
- Identify sociodemographic predictors of parenting stress.
- Compare parenting stress in IBD to other pediatric chronic conditions.
Main Methods:
- 62 caregivers of adolescents with IBD completed the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP).
- PIP measured frequency and difficulty of parenting stress.
- Disease severity was assessed by pediatric gastroenterologists.
Main Results:
- Parenting stress (difficulty) correlated positively with Crohn's disease severity (r = 0.38).
- Caregiver age negatively correlated with parenting stress frequency (r = -0.25).
- IBD parenting stress rates were similar to type 1 diabetes, lower than other conditions.
Conclusions:
- Caregivers of adolescents with IBD report low parenting stress during outpatient care and inactive disease.
- Family sociodemographics (e.g., Caucasian, educated, higher SES) may enhance resource access and stress management.
- Findings suggest a need for targeted psychosocial support for IBD caregivers.
Background:
The psychosocial functioning of caregivers of adolescents managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been understudied; yet, poor caregiver functioning can place youth at risk for compromised disease management. The current study addressed this limitation by examining a sample of caregivers of adolescents with IBD. Study aims included (1) documenting rates of paediatric parenting stress; (2) identifying associated sociodemographic predictors of parenting stress; and (3) comparing previously published rates of parenting stress to those within other paediatric chronic conditions, including cancer, type 1 diabetes, obesity, sickle cell disease, bladder exstrophy.
Methods:
Caregivers of adolescents with an IBD diagnosis (M(age) = 15.4 ± 1.4, 44.4% female, 88.7% Caucasian) and receiving tertiary care within a gastroenterology clinic (n = 62) completed the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) as a measure of paediatric parenting stress with frequency and difficulty as PIP subscales. Paediatric gastroenterologists provided disease severity assessments.
Results:
Adolescents with IBD were experiencing relatively mild disease activity. Bivariate correlations revealed that PIP-difficulty was positively associated with Crohn's disease severity (r = 0.38, P < 0.01). Caregiver age was negatively associated with the frequency of parenting stress total (r = -0.25, P = 0.05) and communication scores (r = -0.25, P < 0.05). The frequency and difficulty of parenting stressors within the IBD sample were similar to rates within type 1 diabetes, but were significantly lower than rates identified in other paediatric chronic conditions.
Conclusions:
Caregivers of adolescents with IBD seem to experience low rates of parenting stress when their adolescents are receiving outpatient care and during phases of IBD relative inactivity. The sociodemographic characteristics of IBD families (i.e. primarily Caucasian, well-educated and higher socio-economic status) likely encourage greater access to financial and psychosocial resources, which may aid in promoting more optimal stress management.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management
01:29Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...