Empirical Literature

Crawford and Dewey (2007) conducted a descriptive study in order to determine if different factors were associated with maternal and paternal adjustment to having children with life-limiting chronic diseases. Convenience sampling was used in order to obtain a sample of 11 mothers and 9 fathers of children with muscular dystrophy. A control group of 19 mothers and 11 fathers of healthy children was also obtained for comparison. The results demonstrated that mothers reported significantly more adjustment difficulties than fathers (F[1,124]= 6.57, p< .05), had a harder time adapting (F[1,124]= 4.80, p< .05), and families with children with chronic diseases had lower scores in family cohesion (F[2,124]= 4.84, p< .01). Through data collection, Crawford and Dewey attribute adaptation struggles to things like previous psychological functioning of family members, socioeconomic status, concurrent psychosocial stressors, and quality of relationships. These are all things that have the potential to significantly alter a mother’s ability to adjust. Another large factor that plays a role in maternal adjustment is the prognosis of muscular dystrophy. It is a progressive and fatal disease where the child can take a turn for the worse at any given moment (Nereo et al., 2003). Because of this, it is difficult for mothers to adjust to an ever-changing state of health of their child (Lucio et al., 2013). Lucio et al. also states the significance of this in the health care setting. “The adaptation process of mothers is not instantaneous and it can change from one period of control to a situation of lack of control. Taking care of a sick child requires skills, knowledge about the disease and the devices to be used. The mothers need clear information from the health professionals and their doubts need to be clarified, so that the care to these children is performed safely and autonomously,” (Lucio et al., 2013, p. 87)