The differential effect of child age on the illness intrusiveness--parent distress relationship in juvenile rheumatic disease

Abstract

Objective: Examine age-related patterns of association between parent-reported illness intrusiveness and parent distress in parents of youth with juvenile rheumatic diseases (JRDs).

Study design: Cross-sectional multiple regression analysis tested child age as a moderator in the illness intrusiveness-distress relationship.

Participants: Fifty-two parents of children ages 9-17 diagnosed with JRD.

Main outcome measures: The Illness Intrusiveness Scale--Parent Version and the Brief Symptom Inventory.

Results: Parent-reported illness intrusiveness demonstrated a significant main effect on distress for all parents in the sample. This was qualified by an Illness Intrusiveness x Child Age interaction. Illness intrusiveness was found to be significantly related to distress among parents of older youth, but was only marginally related to distress for parents of younger children.

Conclusions: Results are consistent with family life cycle development models of adjustment to childhood chronic illness. The clinical implications of the findings are also discussed.