TY - JOUR
T1 - Children's perceptions of parental multiple sclerosis
AU - Cross, T.
AU - Rintell, D.
N1 - This research was made possible by a grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We would like to thank Rosalind Kalb, Helen Batten and Elise Cantor for their contributions to the study. The late Judith Gardner also contributed.
PY - 1999/11
Y1 - 1999/11
N2 - Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7-to-14-year-old children of parents with multiple sclerosis (MS; N = 21) to examine children's perceptions of MS, and a content analysis was conducted. Children observed visible and 'invisible' symptoms and affective distress. Few children had information about the physiological process of MS. The most frequent categories of casual beliefs were fate or chance, contagion and congenital/hereditary factors. Many children mentioned their own and other peoples behaviour as influences on the course of MS. No children believed that parents' MS would get worse. Children need developmentally appropriate information, reassurance about their effect on parents and their own risk of contracting MS, and discussion of the stress on the family. The study suggests the value of psycho-educational intervention for many families with MS.
AB - Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7-to-14-year-old children of parents with multiple sclerosis (MS; N = 21) to examine children's perceptions of MS, and a content analysis was conducted. Children observed visible and 'invisible' symptoms and affective distress. Few children had information about the physiological process of MS. The most frequent categories of casual beliefs were fate or chance, contagion and congenital/hereditary factors. Many children mentioned their own and other peoples behaviour as influences on the course of MS. No children believed that parents' MS would get worse. Children need developmentally appropriate information, reassurance about their effect on parents and their own risk of contracting MS, and discussion of the stress on the family. The study suggests the value of psycho-educational intervention for many families with MS.
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U2 - 10.1080/135485099106090
DO - 10.1080/135485099106090
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032714397
SN - 1354-8506
VL - 4
SP - 355
EP - 360
JO - Psychology, Health and Medicine
JF - Psychology, Health and Medicine
IS - 4
ER -