Stress in parents whose children are hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers: a comparison of three groups in Guangzhou, China

Abstract

This study was conducted in Guangzhou, China. It compared the responses on stress scales of three groups of parents: (1) parents of children with HBV attending a special health kindergarten; (2) parents of children with HBV who stayed at home; and (3) parents of healthy children attending ordinary kindergartens. Parents of HBV infected children reported greater problems due to stress. This stress was correlated with parents' general health in the three groups. The groups did not differ in reports of stress arising from life events other than the child's illness.