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Psychosocial impact of chronic illness in children
1Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Children with chronic illnesses face higher risks of psychological issues. Research identifies factors influencing their well-being and adaptation, highlighting potential impacts on development and academic progress.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Childhood Chronic Illness
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Chronic illness is prevalent in childhood, often leading to psychological difficulties.
- Understanding risk and protective factors is crucial for predicting child outcomes.
- Physicians face unique challenges managing chronic pediatric conditions versus acute illnesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk and protective factors for psychological and health outcomes in children with chronic illness.
- To describe physician challenges in caring for chronically ill children.
- To examine child adaptation to illness within a developmental context.
Main Methods:
- Review of current research on childhood chronic illness.
- Analysis of physician roles in acute versus chronic care.
- Developmental framework for understanding child adaptation.
- Identification of family response patterns.
Main Results:
- Chronic illness in children increases the risk of psychological difficulties.
- Specific risk and protective factors influence health and psychological outcomes.
- Family responses can be adaptive or maladaptive.
- Intellectual development and academic progress may be compromised by chronic illness or its treatment.
Conclusions:
- Early identification of risk and protective factors is essential for supporting children with chronic illnesses.
- A developmental and family-centered approach is vital for managing childhood chronic conditions.
- Interventions should address potential impacts on cognitive and academic development.
Abstract:
Chronic illness is common in childhood and is associated with an increased risk of psychological difficulties in the child. Current research is focused on the identification of specific risk and protective factors that may predict psychological and health outcomes. The challenges faced by physicians caring for a child with chronic illness are described and contrasted with the medical role in treating acute illness. The child's adaptation to illness is discussed in a developmental framework and positive and maladaptive family responses are identified. It is suggested that chronic illness and/or its treatment may compromise intellectual development and academic progress.