The Relationship of Family Factors to Psychosocial Outcomes in Children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at 6 Years of Age

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the relationships between family factors and outcomes for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

Study design: This cross-sectional study was ancillary to the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Extension Study to examine family factors including parental mental health, quality of life (QOL), family resources, function and management, and their relationships to child psychosocial outcomes (adaptive behavior, internalizing and externalizing behaviors and health-related quality of life [HRQOL]) at 6 years of age.

Results: Participants were parents (115 mothers, 71 fathers) of children with HLHS. Parents reported anxiety, QOL and family resources that were worse than the general population; 33% reported family dysfunction. There were no meaningful differences between reports from mothers and fathers. Parental perception of better child health was associated with better family management of the condition (P < .05). Several family management factors explained a moderate amount of variance in adaptive behavior (ΔR² = 0.08-0.14), adaptive skills (ΔR² = 0.19-0.21), and HRQOL scores (ΔR² = 0.04-0.18); little variance was explained in internalizing problems (ΔR² = 0.02-0.03) (all P < .05) above and beyond demographic and clinical variables.

Conclusions: HLHS has a significant impact on both children and families. Relationships between child and family characteristics may impose risk or protection. Improved understanding of these associations should guide counseling and tailored interventions.

Keywords: congenital heart disease; family; psychosocial functioning; quality of life.