title: Preliminary evaluation of maternal caregiver stress in pediatric eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize caregiver stress (CS) in parents of children with Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGIDs) and understand relationships with psychological functioning and child behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers with a child (0-17 years) with EGID completed questionnaires for demographics, EGID severity, treatments, CS, psychological distress, self-efficacy, and child behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 163 caregivers (98% mother, 94% Caucasian) participated. CS correlated with psychological distress, income, child behavioral problems, treatments, and disease severity. Children were rated higher than age-specific norms for emotional difficulties. Behavioral difficulties associated with gender, age, EGID severity, and duration. Parent psychological distress was most strongly associated with CS. Parental self-efficacy, dietary treatments, and child emotional difficulties were also related to stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mothers reported stress and psychological distress from caring for a child with EGID. The relationship between these variables suggests these parents may benefit from supportive psychotherapy interventions. Evaluation of parental self-efficacy and child behavior is also warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. ttaft@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Tiffany H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballou
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keefer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004751:Enteritis / Q000523:psychology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology