Psychosocial problems in children with cystic fibrosis

Aim: To compare the well-being of children (7-14 years) with cystic fibrosis (CF) (n = 43) with the well-being of healthy controls (n = 1121). Methods: The self-report questionnaire Beck Youth Inventories (BYI) was used to study depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behaviour and self-concept in children with CF. A measure of social desirability was included as well as body mass index (BMI) and percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) as measures of health status. Results: The children with CF did not differ from the norm group concerning depression, disruptive behaviour and self-concept. Young children with CF (7-10 years) and boys with CF scored significantly higher on anxiety. Girls with CF scored significantly lower on anger than controls. BMI was not associated with any of the BYI subscales. In patients aged 11-14 years, there was a significant correlation between FEV1 and self-concept as well as a significant inverse correlation between FEV1 and anxiety. Conclusions: Younger children with CF and boys with CF were more anxious than the healthy controls, and girls with CF expressed less anger than their healthy peers. Effects sizes however were small. Low FEV1 was associated with low self-concept and high anxiety in adolescent patients.