Liver transplantation in children: maternal and family stress, coping, and adaptation.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relationship of family stress, severity of the stressor, uncertainty, coping, and family adaptation from pretransplantation to posttransplantation.


METHODS
A descriptive, longitudinal study of 15 mothers whose children were at least 5 years posttransplantation.


RESULTS
Maternal stress, coping, and uncertainty demonstrated significant changes over time, whereas family stress did not. Pretransplantation family stress, anger, and confusion were related to poorer family adaptation.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions for mothers pretransplantation should account for the coping, levels of stress, and uncertainty present at each phase of the transplantation process. Interventions need to be tailored to the transplantation phase. Long-term interventions remain necessary and should be directed at reinforcement of teaching, as well as assessment and provision of parental support relevant to the long-term needs of the family.
LoBiondo-Wood
Geri
G
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Nursing, Houston, TX, USA. Geri.L.Wood@uth.tmc.edu
Williams
Laurel
L
McGhee
Charles
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003221:Confusion; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D035501:Uncertainty