Living with parental multiple sclerosis: children's experiences and clinical implications.
BACKGROUND
Health professionals need to understand how chronic illness affects all family members.


OBJECTIVE
This study explored the everyday experiences of children who have a parent with multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
Exploratory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Queensland children, aged 7 to 14 years. Videotapes were transcribed verbatim and analysed inductively.


RESULTS
Themes were labelled changing roles and responsibilities, emotional impact, and things that helped. Participants described taking on additional roles and responsibilities that restricted their participation in developmentally appropriate occupations, the emotional and practical impact of having a parent with MS and different methods they employed to cope with this impact.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings emphasise the need for therapists to look beyond the diagnosed individual and see MS as a chronic illness affecting the whole family. Occupational therapists might assist parents and children to maintain their occupations through the provision of appropriate interventions and connection to referral networks.
Turpin
Merril
M
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 407. m.turpin@shrs.uq.edu.au
Leech
Christine
C
Hackenberg
Louisa
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010290:Parents