Jr. Rodrigue et al., MOTHERS OF CHILDREN EVALUATED FOR TRANSPLANTATION - STRESS, COPING RESOURCES, AND PERCEPTIONS OF FAMILY FUNCTIONING, Clinical transplantation, 10(5), 1996, pp. 447-450
The stress, coping resources, and family functioning of 36 mothers of
children awaiting transplantation were evaluated. Using standardized a
ssessment techniques, we found that, overall, 20% of mothers reported
clinically elevated stress responses and that parenting stress was hig
her for mothers of children evaluated for solid organ transplantation
(vs. bone marrow transplantation). Coping strategies characterized by
maintenance of personal and family stability were strongly associated
with lower levels of parenting stress. Findings also showed significan
t disruption in family planning and activities, as well as a strong as
sociation between lower socioeconomic status and higher parenting stre
ss. There is a need for the longitudinal assessment of parental and fa
mily functioning throughout the transplantation process as well as for
interventions designed to reduce parenting distress.