Brief report: illness intrusiveness and adjustment among Native American and Caucasian parents of children with juvenile rheumatic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cognitive appraisal-adjustment relationships in Native American (NA) and Caucasian parents of children diagnosed with juvenile rheumatic diseases.


METHODS
NA (n = 16) and Caucasian (n = 24) parents completed measures of disease status, illness intrusiveness, and adjustment; the rheumatologist provided estimates of disease severity.


RESULTS
Hierarchical regression analysis revealed a moderating effect for racial group membership on the illness intrusiveness-parent adjustment relationship. Specifically, parent-perceived illness intrusiveness was more closely related to poorer adjustment among NA parents relative to Caucasian parents. Post hoc tests indicated that illness intrusiveness was significantly associated with poorer adjustment in NA parents, but was unrelated to parent adjustment in the Caucasian sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Results highlight the importance of examining racial group differences in cognitive appraisal-adjustment outcome relationships. Results are discussed with respect to the need for incorporating cultural issues into pediatric chronic illness research and treatment.
Andrews
Nicole R
NR
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 215 North Murray, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. nicole.andrews@okstate.edu
Chaney
John M
JM
Mullins
Larry L
LL
Wagner
Janelle L
JL
Hommel
Kevin A
KA
Jarvis
James N
JN
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000208:ethnology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D015206:Southwestern United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*