Background: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) affects up to 20% of children
and significantly negatively impacts their and their caregiver’s quality
of life (QoL). Research shows that caregivers with lower QoL may
struggle to manage their child’s AD effectively, and modifiable factors
that affect their ability include illness perceptions and self-efficacy
(SE). The study aimed to investigate the relationship between AD
severity, caregiver illness perceptions, QoL and SE in the management of
a child’s AD. Methods: 103 caregivers of children with atopic
dermatitis completed an online survey consisting of the Patient Oriented
Eczema Measure, Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire, Parental
Self-Efficacy with Eczema Care Index, and Illness Perception
Questionnaire - Revised. Results: Correlation analyses showed
significant relationships between a child’s AD severity and caregiver
illness perceptions, SE and QoL. Certain illness perceptions
(consequences and emotional representations) had a greater impact on QoL
than AD severity. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that AD
severity, illness perceptions and SE predicted 72% of the variance in
caregiver QoL. SE mediated the relationship between consequences,
illness coherence, personal control, treatment control, timeline
acute/chronic, identity and QoL. Conclusion: The findings support
the role of illness perceptions and SE in explaining QoL in caregivers
of children with AD. Interventions aimed at caregivers to treat AD in
children should target both SE and illness perceptions, particularly
emotional representations.