Examination of parent-child adjustment in juvenile rheumatic diseases using depression-specific indices of parent and youth functioning.
Studies demonstrate a link between parental distress, youth illness appraisals, and depression symptoms in youth with juvenile rheumatic diseases. However, the exclusive use of broadband (i.e. general) measures of parental distress in these studies has resulted in conceptual and clinical imprecision regarding the parent-child adjustment process. Our aim was to reanalyze previously published data (i.e. Wagner et al., 2003) using a depression-specific scale derived from the general adult distress measure in the original study. Parents completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), youth completed the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Illness Intrusiveness Scale (IIS-C). Thirteen Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) depression-specific items from the BSI comprised the parent measure of Depressive Symptoms Scale (DS). Consistent with Wagner et al. (2003), adult DS scores were associated with youth CDI scores. However, youth illness appraisals had unique effects on the parent-child depression relation. Elevated youth perceptions of illness intrusiveness amplified the negative effect of parent depressive symptoms on youth depressive symptoms; decreased illness intrusiveness buffered the negative effect of parent depression. The empirical and clinical implications of assessing parent and youth adjustment in a domain-specific manner are discussed.
Oklahoma State University, USA margaret.bonner@okstate.edu.
Margaret S
MS
Bonner
Oklahoma State University, USA.
Rachelle R
RR
Ramsey
Oklahoma State University, USA.
Jamie L
JL
Ryan
University of Florida, USA.
David A
DA
Fedele
Oklahoma State University, USA.
Larry L
LL
Mullins
Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
Janelle L
JL
Wagner
State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
James N
JN
Jarvis
Oklahoma State University, USA.
John M
JM
Chaney
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Depressive symptoms; illness intrusiveness; juvenile rheumatic diseases; parent–child interaction