Spending Time with Mothers as a Resource for Children with Chronic Diseases

A Comparison of Asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, and Cancer during Covid-19 Pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID15467494
AuthorsSilvia Spaggiari (0000-0002-6041-9765, University of Padua, corresponding author), Virginia Forlini (University of Padua), Silvia Carraro (0000-0003-2284-1225, University of Padua), Valentina Ferraro (0000-0002-9840-8519, University of Padua), Stefania Zanconato (University of Padua), Maria Montanaro (Ospedale SS. Annunziata), Valerio Cecinati (0000-0001-8542-5240, Ospedale SS. Annunziata), Silvana Zaffani (University of Verona), Claudio Maffeis (0000-0002-3563-4404, University of Verona), Daniela Di Riso (0000-0002-3759-0441, University of Padua)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue21
Pages14126-14126
Publication date2022-10-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph192114126
PMID36361022
OpenAlexW4307941959
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited45

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many families had to manage new difficulties, especially those of chronically ill children. More and more research has focused on the negative effects of the pandemic on psychological wellbeing, while less is known about the resources. The present study aimed to explore the role of time spent with mothers in chronically ill children's populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it explored the differences in mothers' and children's psychosocial functioning in three clinical populations. Four groups were recruited and compared: 7-15 year old children with asthma (45), type 1 diabetes (52), and cancer (33), as well as their healthy counterparts (41), and their respective mothers. They were administered standardized questionnaires and ad hoc surveys assessing psychological wellbeing and worries. Children of the four groups scored significantly differently with respect to the concerns for contagion, internalizing symptoms, and prosocial behaviors; mothers had worries about the consequences of their children's contagion related to the chronic illness, as well as time with the child. The multiple linear regression model showed an association of being affected by cancer, suffering from type 1 diabetes, and spending less time with the child with an increase in children's internalizing problems. Time with mothers seemed to be a resource for psychological wellbeing during the pandemic. Clinical implications are discussed

Asthma · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Diabetes mellitus · Disease · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Type 1 diabetes · Type 2 diabetes · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family Support in Illness · Medicine · Psychology · Immunology