Sickle cell disease in children and adolescents: the relation of child and parent pain coping strategies to adjustment

Abstract

Examined pain coping strategies in 72 children and adolescents with sickle cell disease and their parents using the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and found that pain coping strategies could be reliably assessed. Children high on Negative Thinking and Passive Adherence were less active, required more health care services, and were more psychologically distressed during painful episodes. Children high on Coping Attempts were more active and required less frequent health care services. Parents high on Coping Attempts and low on Passive Adherence had children who were more active.