Patients with univentricular heart in early childhood: parenting stress and child behaviour

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Updated: May 28, 2026

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

A Sarajuuri1, T Lönnqvist, F Schmitt

  • 1Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland. anne.sarajuuri@hus.fi

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|November 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Parents of children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) experience significantly higher parenting stress and report more child behavior problems compared to controls. Children with other univentricular heart defects (UVH) did not show increased stress or behavioral issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart defect.
  • Understanding the psychosocial impact on families is crucial for comprehensive care.
  • Previous research has explored neurodevelopmental outcomes, but parental stress and child behavior require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess child behavior and parenting stress in parents of young children with HLHS.
  • To compare these perceptions with parents of children with other functionally univentricular heart defects (UVH) and healthy controls.
  • To identify specific areas of concern related to these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, nation-wide neurodevelopmental follow-up study.
  • Inclusion of parents of 23 HLHS patients, 14 UVH patients, and 46 healthy controls (mean age 18 months).
  • Utilized Child Behavior Checklist and Parenting Stress Index questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher total parenting stress reported by mothers and fathers of HLHS patients compared to controls.
  • Parents of HLHS patients reported more total and internalizing child behavior problems, particularly somatic complaints.
  • No significant increase in parenting stress or emotional problems was found in parents of UVH patients compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • HLHS significantly increases parenting stress.
  • Emotional maladjustment in children with HLHS may be partly linked to somatic complaints.
  • These findings highlight the need for targeted psychosocial support for families affected by HLHS.
Abstract

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