Brief report: child-rearing practices of caregivers with and without a child with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: perspectives of caregivers and professionals.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate predictions from professionals in pediatric rheumatology regarding the child-rearing practices of caregivers of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and healthy classmates.


METHODS
Sixteen professionals identified items from the Child-Rearing Practices Report (CRPR) that were expected to differentiate between caregivers of children with JRA (64 mothers, 45 fathers) and caregivers of healthy classmates (64 mothers, 40 fathers). Families were interviewed, and physician ratings of disease severity were obtained.


RESULTS
Experts predicted difficulties in protectiveness, discipline, and worry. Ratings from parents of children with JRA showed modest agreement with the professionals, surprising similarity to controls, and a limited association with disease factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to expert opinion, JRA has only a modest influence on some child-rearing practices. Educating health care providers may minimize misperceptions about caring for children with JRA, and screening parents of children with more severe disease may assist in allocating education and services for families.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. cindy.gerhardt@chmcc.org
Cynthia A
CA
Gerhardt
Kathryn
K
Vannatta
J Mark
JM
McKellop
Janalee
J
Taylor
Murray
M
Passo
Jennifer
J
Reiter-Purtill
Meg
M
Zeller
Robert B
RB
Noll
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires