An examination of parenting variables and child self-care behavior across disease groups

The present study examined the relationship of three parent-related variables, namely, perceived child vulnerability, parental overprotection, and parenting stress to child self-care behaviors among 200 children with Type 1 diabetes, asthma, or cystic fibrosis. A related goal of the study was to examine for illness- and age-related differences among the same variables of interest. Results indicated that higher levels of parenting stress were associated with lower parent ratings of their child's self-care behaviors. Additional analyses of individual illness groups demonstrated that age was significantly related to both child and parent ratings of self-care only for the diabetes group, with older children engaging in lower levels of self-care. Such results support continued investigation of parent behaviors and beliefs as they relate to child self-care outcomes at different ages in pediatric chronic illness populations.