Long-term psychological distress, and styles of coping, in parents of children and adolescents who underwent invasive treatment for congenital cardiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of psychological distress and styles of coping in both mothers and fathers of children who underwent invasive treatment for congenital cardiac disease at least 7 years and 6 months ago.


METHODS
The General Health Questionnaire and the Utrecht Coping List were completed by parents of children with 4 different cardiac diagnoses.


RESULTS
Overall, in comparison with reference groups, parents of children treated for congenital heart disease showed lower levels of distress, manifested as lower levels of somatic symptoms, anxiety and sleeplessness and serious depression. Mothers of children with congenital heart disease reported significantly more somatic symptoms than fathers.Further, compared to reference groups more favourable outcomes on coping were found; parents in our sample showed a weaker tendency to use styles of coping such as reassuring thoughts and less often expressed negative emotions (anger, annoyance). Mothers in our sample appeared to seek social support more often compared to fathers.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, lower levels of psychological distress and few differences in styles of coping compared to reference groups were found in parents of children treated for congenital heart disease. We need to remain alert however, for individual parents at risk of adjusting poorly.
Spijkerboer
Alinda W
AW
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Helbing
Willem A
WA
Bogers
Ad J J C
AJ
Van Domburg
Ron T
RT
Verhulst
Frank C
FC
Utens
Elisabeth M W J
EM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires