Adjustment to chronic arthritis of childhood: The roles of illness-related stress and attitude toward illness

Jennifer Soriano LeBovidge; John V. Lavigne; Michael L. Miller

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsi037

Adjustment to chronic arthritis of childhood: The roles of illness-related stress and attitude toward illness

Jennifer Soriano LeBovidge^*, John V. Lavigne, Michael L. Miller

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship of psychosocial stress and attitude toward illness to psychological adjustment among youth with chronic arthritis. Methods: Seventy-five youths with chronic arthritis aged 8-18 years were administered a semi-structured interview assessing illness-related and nonillness-related stressors in important life domains. Children also completed measures of attitude toward illness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Parents completed a measure of child psychosocial adjustment. Results: Higher levels of illness-related and nonillness-related stress were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-reported adjustment problems, while a more positive attitude toward illness was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attitude toward illness moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest the importance of assessing life stress and attitude toward illness among youth with arthritis and developing interventions to help children cope with arthritis-related stressors and promote a more positive attitude toward illness.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	273-286
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of pediatric psychology
Volume	30
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsi037
State	Published - Apr 2005

Funding

This study was based on Jennifer S. LeBovidge’s doctoral dissertation submitted to Northwestern University and supported in part by a Graduate Research Grant from Northwestern University. We thank Jill Weissberg-Benchell, Ph.D., Karen Gouze, Ph.D., and Peter Zeldow, Ph.D. for their comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. We also thank Danielle Baran for her assistance in interview coding. We are extremely grateful to the families who contributed their time and effort to this project.

Keywords

Attitudes toward illness
Chronic arthritis
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Pediatric chronic illness
Psychological adjustment
Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1093/jpepsy/jsi037

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title = "Adjustment to chronic arthritis of childhood: The roles of illness-related stress and attitude toward illness",

abstract = "Objective: To examine the relationship of psychosocial stress and attitude toward illness to psychological adjustment among youth with chronic arthritis. Methods: Seventy-five youths with chronic arthritis aged 8-18 years were administered a semi-structured interview assessing illness-related and nonillness-related stressors in important life domains. Children also completed measures of attitude toward illness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Parents completed a measure of child psychosocial adjustment. Results: Higher levels of illness-related and nonillness-related stress were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-reported adjustment problems, while a more positive attitude toward illness was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attitude toward illness moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest the importance of assessing life stress and attitude toward illness among youth with arthritis and developing interventions to help children cope with arthritis-related stressors and promote a more positive attitude toward illness.",

keywords = "Attitudes toward illness, Chronic arthritis, Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Pediatric chronic illness, Psychological adjustment, Stress",

author = "LeBovidge, {Jennifer Soriano} and Lavigne, {John V.} and Miller, {Michael L.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was based on Jennifer S. LeBovidge{\textquoteright}s doctoral dissertation submitted to Northwestern University and supported in part by a Graduate Research Grant from Northwestern University. We thank Jill Weissberg-Benchell, Ph.D., Karen Gouze, Ph.D., and Peter Zeldow, Ph.D. for their comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. We also thank Danielle Baran for her assistance in interview coding. We are extremely grateful to the families who contributed their time and effort to this project.",

year = "2005",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1093/jpepsy/jsi037",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "30",

pages = "273--286",

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AU - Lavigne, John V.

AU - Miller, Michael L.

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PY - 2005/4

Y1 - 2005/4

N2 - Objective: To examine the relationship of psychosocial stress and attitude toward illness to psychological adjustment among youth with chronic arthritis. Methods: Seventy-five youths with chronic arthritis aged 8-18 years were administered a semi-structured interview assessing illness-related and nonillness-related stressors in important life domains. Children also completed measures of attitude toward illness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Parents completed a measure of child psychosocial adjustment. Results: Higher levels of illness-related and nonillness-related stress were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-reported adjustment problems, while a more positive attitude toward illness was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attitude toward illness moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest the importance of assessing life stress and attitude toward illness among youth with arthritis and developing interventions to help children cope with arthritis-related stressors and promote a more positive attitude toward illness.

AB - Objective: To examine the relationship of psychosocial stress and attitude toward illness to psychological adjustment among youth with chronic arthritis. Methods: Seventy-five youths with chronic arthritis aged 8-18 years were administered a semi-structured interview assessing illness-related and nonillness-related stressors in important life domains. Children also completed measures of attitude toward illness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Parents completed a measure of child psychosocial adjustment. Results: Higher levels of illness-related and nonillness-related stress were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-reported adjustment problems, while a more positive attitude toward illness was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attitude toward illness moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest the importance of assessing life stress and attitude toward illness among youth with arthritis and developing interventions to help children cope with arthritis-related stressors and promote a more positive attitude toward illness.

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KW - Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

KW - Pediatric chronic illness

KW - Psychological adjustment

KW - Stress

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Adjustment to chronic arthritis of childhood: The roles of illness-related stress and attitude toward illness

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