Affiliations: [a] Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA | [b] Department of Nursing Research, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA | [c] Self-Management Science Center, College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA | [d] CON Self-Management Science Center Director, UWM Clinical and Translation Science Institute University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA | [e] Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Monique M. Ridosh, Loyola University Chicago, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, 2160 S. First Avenue, 125-4534, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. Tel.: +1 708 216 0336; Fax: +1 708 216 9555; E-mail:mridosh@luc.edu
Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore factors related
to parental depressive symptoms (PDS) and family quality of life (FQOL) in
parents of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with and without a specific
chronic health condition (CHC), spina bifida. METHODS: Two hundred and nine parents of AYA (112 with SB; and 97
without) and their AYA (46% males and 54% females) took part in a
multi-site cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. In telephone
interviews parents reported on measures of family satisfaction, resources,
cohesion, stress, demographic and clinical data. RESULTS: In the multivariate analyses, 38% of the variance of
PDS was explained by family income, family resources and parent stress.
Having a child with SB was not predictive of PDS. However, having a child
with SB, along with family satisfaction, parent stress and PDS explained
49% of the variance of FQOL. PDS partially mediate the relationship of
family resources and FQOL. CONCLUSION: PDS, family stress, and resources should be evaluated
routinely, especially for those with low income. Parents of AYA with SB who
have elevated PDS are at increased risk of having lower reported FQOL.
Keywords: Chronic health condition, spina bifida, mental health, depressive symptoms, family quality of life, parents, adolescent
