title: Anxiety and depression in mothers and fathers of a chronically ill child.
abstract: We aimed to determine the levels of anxiety and depression in mothers and fathers of a chronically ill child (0-18 years) and to study which parental and child variables are associated with anxiety and depression. In a cross-sectional design, anxiety and depression were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Scores were compared to a Dutch reference group by analysis of variance and logistic regression analysis. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine which variables were associated with anxiety and depression. Mothers of a chronically ill child (n = 566) scored significantly higher than the reference group (p < .001) on anxiety (Mean 5.9 vs 4.8) and depression (Mean 4.5 vs 3.1). Fathers (n = 123) had higher depression scores (Mean 4.5 vs 3.6; p < .05), but fathers' anxiety scores were comparable to the reference group. The percentages of mothers in the clinical range of anxiety (31.8 vs 20.7 %, OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.46-2.83) and depression (23.0 vs 12.0 %, OR 2.76, 95 % CI 1.84-4.13) were higher (p < .001) than in the reference group. No differences were found for fathers in the clinical range for anxiety and depression. Practical problems in daily life (a: β = .33, d: β = .25) and parenting stress (a: β = .30, d: β = .32) showed the strongest association with anxiety and depression for parents as a group. Illness-related characteristics of the child were not related. Parents of a chronically ill child, especially mothers, reported high levels of anxiety and depression. Awareness about parental anxiety and depression in pediatrics is important as well as targeted interventions.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Psychosocial Department, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Room A3-241, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, h.a.vanoers@amc.nl.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: van Oers
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haverman
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Limperg
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Dijk-Lokkart
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurice-Stam
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grootenhuis
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010372:Pediatrics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales