ILLNESS SPECIFIC PATTERNS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT AND COGNITIVE ADAPTATIONAL PROCESSES IN CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS AND SICKLE-CELLDISEASE

illness-specific patterns of adjustment and cognitive adaptational pro cess were identified in children (7-12 years of age) with cystic fibro sis (CF, n = 40) or sickle cell disease (SCD, n = 40). Anxiety diagnos es were most frequent for both illness subgroups but children with CF had a higher rate of oppositional disorder (27.5%) than did children w ith SCD (2.5%). Significant portions of the variance in adjustment wer e accounted for by stress appraisal (19%), expectations of efficacy (9 %) and health locus of control (9%) for children with CF and by stress appraisal (21%) and self-worth (12%)for children with SCD. The intera ction of general and specific illness tasks and adaptational process w ith developmental tasks in delineating intervention opportunities is d iscussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.