Date of Award
Fall 1999
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Fox, Robert
Second Advisor
Anderson, Rebecca
Third Advisor
Laughlin, Timothy
Abstract
Childrearing practices are influenced by a multitude of determinants including parental, child, and situational factor (Belsky, 1984). The health status of the child, including the onset of a chronic illness, is an example of a child related factor that may influence the parenting experience and childrearing practices. Chronic illness is a serious, ongoing health condition that has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year. A chronic condition leads to current or future disability or limitation in activity or functioning, dependency on medications or medical technology, and results in the need for increased medical care, treatments, or services compared to the peer group of the child (Stein, 1992). Chronic illnesses and conditions have implications in the social, psychological, developmental, and biological domains for a child and family (Stein, 1992). The continuing stress of parenting a child with a chronic illness and evidence of psychological distress among parent of chronically ill children suggests that chronic illness in childhood is a significant stressor on the family (Hillman, 1997; Kazak, 1989; Sterling et al., 1997)...