Emotional and behavioural difficulties in children of parents with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Emotional and behavioural problems were investigated in children who have a parent with multiple sclerosis (MS), in relation to factors such as family dysfunction, parental depression and illness-related characteristics. The participants were 56 MS patients, their spouses and one randomly selected child aged 4-17 years, and a comparison group of 64 children and both their parents, none of whom reported somatic illness. Emotional and behavioural problems in the children were identified by reporting of both parents and self-report using the Achenbach's Child Behaviour Checklist and Youth Self Report respectively. Parental depression and family dysfunction were explored using the Beck Depression Inventory and Family Assessment Device, respectively. The data were analysed using independent samples t-tests for between-group comparisons, Pearson r correlations between children's problems and family dysfunction or parental depression, and multiple regression analyses for identifying predictors for children's problems. Children whose parents, especially mothers, had MS presented greater emotional and behavioural problems than comparison children. Children's problems were positively associated with maternal depression and family dysfunction. Family dysfunction predicted children's overall and externalizing problems, while the severity of impairment of the ill mother predicted children's internalizing problems. Implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed.

Impact of parental multiple sclerosis on early childhood development: A retrospective cohort study

“…33 Studies have reported a greater risk of depression, anxiety, somatization, difficulty in relating to others and greater emotional and behavioral problems in children of MS parents. 6,7,[34][35][36] It is possible that children of MS parents have relatively normal developmental trajectories in early childhood, but that the stress of parental MS manifests with vulnerability on the physical health dimension first. 37 Our study was restricted to early childhood development and we cannot rule out effects in later childhood and adolescence.…”

Kinder körperlich kranker Eltern: Psychische Belastungen, Wege der Bewältigung und Perspektiven der seelischen Gesundheitsvorsorge

“…Die niederländische Forschergruppe um Visser Huizinga et al, 2005) (Watson et al, 2006). In der griechischen COSIP-Studie an 56 Familien mit einem an Multipler Sklerose erkrankten Elternteil zeigte sich, dass internalisierende Symptome der Kinder signifikant mit den Depressionswerten der Mütter korrelierten, unabhängig davon, ob diese selbst oder die Väter in den Familien erkrankt waren (Diareme et al, 2006). In der bereits erwähnten multiperspektivisch angelegten transnationalen Untersuchung von 144 Familien aus drei Ländern mit einem an Multipler Sklerose erkrankten Elternteil korrelierte die Depressivität kranker Mütter und noch deutlicher die des gesunden Elternteils mit internalisierenden Auffälligkeiten der Kinder.…”

Nettilbud for barn og unge med MS-syk forelder

“…Dette behovet står i motsetning til foreldres umiddelbare tanke om at de vil skåne barna for vanskelig og bekymringsfull informasjon (9,10). Videre bør barn og unge få støtte til å takle egen hverdag ved å laere gode mestringsstrategier (5,11).…”