CORRELATES OF WELL-BEING IN MOTHERS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Fifty mothers and 44 well siblings of children and adolescents with cy stic fibrosis (CF) participated in this study to identify correlates o f maternal well-being. Participants completed postal questionnaires wh ich assessed maternal wellbeing, problems experienced surrounding the illness and treatment and the nature of the sibling relationship. Due to the demanding nature of treatment and the fact that CF is both gene tic and incurable at present we anticipate mothers of these children w ill experience higher levels of stress and consequently poorer well-be ing than the normal population. In addition, illness severity, problem s with adherence to treatment, child communication, maternal support a nd the sibling relationship are expected to relate to maternal well-be ing. Mothers in this sample did not rate their well-being as any diffe rent to the normal population. Results suggest that mothers are likely to rate their own well-being as poor when they report more frequent p roblems surrounding the illness and treatment and well children rate t heir sibling relationship as having frequent disagreements and aggress ion. This study highlights factors that are related to maternal wellbe ing in families where one child has CF. These mothers as a group do no t appear to be experiencing more stress in their daily lives than the normal population but certain illness and family variables are related to their well-being when examining the mothers on certain dimensions.