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Stories for Reprint
Parent Stress Impacts Children with Arthritis
By Ferdous Al-Faruque, MARRTC Staff
Parents may not always realize the impact their own stress has on their child. A new study has found that stress experienced by parents of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may be related to depressed mood in their child.
Kelly Anthony, PhD, a pediatric psychologist and primary author of the study, counsels families of children with arthritis in the pediatric rheumatology clinics at Duke University and says that it is important for parents to learn how to manage their own stress. "Parents serve as a role model for their kids, so kids often learn how to cope with stress from watching their parents," says Anthony.
Anthony and her co-investigators at Duke University and the University of North Carolina asked children with arthritis and their parents questions about symptoms of depression and stress. Results show parents who were more stressed also tended to have children who reported more symptoms of depression.
When a child is first diagnosed with arthritis, making time for doctor appointments, learning about the disease and understanding their child's medications can stress parents. It can be especially stressful for parents to see their child in pain or unable to keep up with friends. "Every family deals with the presence of arthritis in their child in a very different way," says Anthony. "(Parents need to recognize) that if they're feeling stressed and are worried about their children's illness, this may impact their child."
Parents shouldn't feel guilty for feeling stressed but should be aware of their own stress reactions and speak to their child's physician about stress to seek advice on how to cope with it, says Anthony. Indeed, there are techniques that both parents and their children can use to reduce stress including relaxation, problem solving and time management skills. Anthony adds that coping with stress can improve a parent's mood, which makes it easier for them to take care of their child. Anthony points out a few signs of stress that parents can look out for in themselves:
- Difficulty completing daily activities
- Frequently feeling overwhelmed
- Difficulty remembering things, such as giving your child his/her medication
- Difficulty getting your child to comply with your requests
- Changes in sleeping and eating habits
Parents should also look for signs of depressive symptoms in their child. Anthony says parents need to speak to their child's health care provider promptly if they see these signs in their child:
- Appears sad or down more often than not
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed social activities
- Has become withdrawn and irritable
- Has frequent crying spells
- Has changes in sleeping and eating habits
According to Anthony, health care professionals can improve the health status of children with arthritis by treating more than just the disease. They also need to look at the impact of arthritis on the child's family and vice versa. Anthony also says health care providers may consider involving a psychologist or social worker in the treatment of children with arthritis. "Meetings with these professionals may provide families with more opportunity and time to discuss issues such as the parent's level of stress, how the parents are coping, and what else may be going on in the home that could be impacting the child with arthritis," she said. In the end, taking care of yourself and being at your best is in your child's best interest.
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