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Medical stress, appraised stress, and the psychological adjustment of mothers of children with myelomeningocele.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kronenberger, WG; Thompson, RJ
Published in: Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP
December 1992

This study investigated the relationship between medical severity, stress appraisals, and psychological symptoms in a representative sample of mothers of children with myelomeningocele. Although these mothers may be at risk for the development of depression and anxiety problems, substantial variability in their psychological adjustment exists, perhaps due to differences in illness severity and stress appraisals. A sample of 66 mothers answered several questionnaires, including the Stress Questionnaire and SCL-90-R. Medical indexes reflecting severity were obtained from medical charts. Correlational analyses indicated no relationship between medical indexes and maternal adjustment. Appraised illness stress was not related to medical indexes but was significantly related to adjustment. Regression analyses including demographic, medical, and appraised stress variables accounted for 32% of the variance in adjustment. The findings suggest the importance of cognitive appraisal of stress as opposed to objective medical severity in the explanation of maternal psychological adjustment to myelomeningocele.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP

EISSN

1536-7312

ISSN

0196-206X

Publication Date

December 1992

Volume

13

Issue

6

Start / End Page

405 / 411

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Support
  • Sick Role
  • Personality Inventory
  • Mothers
  • Meningomyelocele
  • Male
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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Kronenberger, W. G., & Thompson, R. J. (1992). Medical stress, appraised stress, and the psychological adjustment of mothers of children with myelomeningocele. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP, 13(6), 405–411.
Kronenberger, W. G., and R. J. Thompson. “Medical stress, appraised stress, and the psychological adjustment of mothers of children with myelomeningocele.Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP 13, no. 6 (December 1992): 405–11.
Kronenberger WG, Thompson RJ. Medical stress, appraised stress, and the psychological adjustment of mothers of children with myelomeningocele. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP. 1992 Dec;13(6):405–11.
Kronenberger, W. G., and R. J. Thompson. “Medical stress, appraised stress, and the psychological adjustment of mothers of children with myelomeningocele.Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP, vol. 13, no. 6, Dec. 1992, pp. 405–11.
Kronenberger WG, Thompson RJ. Medical stress, appraised stress, and the psychological adjustment of mothers of children with myelomeningocele. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP. 1992 Dec;13(6):405–411.

Published In

Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP

EISSN

1536-7312

ISSN

0196-206X

Publication Date

December 1992

Volume

13

Issue

6

Start / End Page

405 / 411

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Support
  • Sick Role
  • Personality Inventory
  • Mothers
  • Meningomyelocele
  • Male
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female