Adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their children

Authors: Turner Cobb, J.M., Steptoe, A., Perry, L. and Axford, J.

Journal: Journal of Rheumatology

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Pages: 565-571

ISSN: 0315-162X

Abstract:

Objective. To assess everyday life stress and emotional adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their children. Methods. We conducted a 6 month study of 14 patients with RA with children aged 4-16 years (25 children) and 24 control families (53 children). Life event stress and functional capacity were assessed at the beginning and end of the study, and minor stressors (hassles), positive events (uplifts), and salivary cortisol were recorded weekly. Emotional adjustment was measured monthly in adults by self-report, and bimonthly in children using the Child Behavior Checklist (completed by parents). Social support and psychological coping responses were also measured. Results. Patients with RA experienced fewer positive events than did controls, and they tended to have smaller support networks. Daily hassle levels correlated with severity of disability, and differences in psychological coping were also observed. Children from RA families reported nearly 50% more hassles per week than did controls, and their social networks were significantly smaller. They were rated as having greater problems of social adjustment than controls. Cortisol concentration was greater among children who experienced more life event stress over the study period, but did not differ between groups. Conclusion. The patients with RA in this study showed good adaptation, but experienced less pleasure in their daily lives. The children of patients with RA may have heightened vulnerability to stress related problems, with fewer social resources and difficulties in behavioral adjustment.

Source: Scopus

Adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their children.

Authors: Turner Cobb, J.M., Steptoe, A., Perry, L. and Axford, J.

Journal: J Rheumatol

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Pages: 565-571

ISSN: 0315-162X

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To assess everyday life stress and emotional adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their children. METHODS: We conducted a 6 month study of 14 patients with RA with children aged 4-16 years (25 children) and 24 control families (53 children). Life event stress and functional capacity were assessed at the beginning and end of the study, and minor stressors (hassles), positive events (uplifts), and salivary cortisol were recorded weekly. Emotional adjustment was measured monthly in adults by self-report, and bimonthly in children using the Child Behavior Checklist (completed by parents). Social support and psychological coping responses were also measured. RESULTS: Patients with RA experienced fewer positive events than did controls, and they tended to have smaller support networks. Daily hassle levels correlated with severity of disability, and differences in psychological coping were also observed. Children from RA families reported nearly 50% more hassles per week than did controls, and their social networks were significantly smaller. They were rated as having greater problems of social adjustment than controls. Cortisol concentration was greater among children who experienced more life event stress over the study period, but did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: The patients with RA in this study showed good adaptation, but experienced less pleasure in their daily lives. The children of patients with RA may have heightened vulnerability to stress related problems, with fewer social resources and difficulties in behavioral adjustment.

Source: PubMed

Adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their children

Authors: Cobb, S.M.T., Steptoe, A., Perry, L. and Axford, J.

Journal: JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Pages: 565-571

ISSN: 0315-162X

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their children

Authors: Turner Cobb, J.M., Steptoe, A., Perry, L. and Axford, J.

Journal: Journal of Rheumatology

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Pages: 565-571

Source: Manual

Adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their children.

Authors: Turner Cobb, J.M., Steptoe, A., Perry, L. and Axford, J.

Journal: The Journal of rheumatology

Volume: 25

Issue: 3

Pages: 565-571

eISSN: 1499-2752

ISSN: 0315-162X

Abstract:

Objective

To assess everyday life stress and emotional adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their children.

Methods

We conducted a 6 month study of 14 patients with RA with children aged 4-16 years (25 children) and 24 control families (53 children). Life event stress and functional capacity were assessed at the beginning and end of the study, and minor stressors (hassles), positive events (uplifts), and salivary cortisol were recorded weekly. Emotional adjustment was measured monthly in adults by self-report, and bimonthly in children using the Child Behavior Checklist (completed by parents). Social support and psychological coping responses were also measured.

Results

Patients with RA experienced fewer positive events than did controls, and they tended to have smaller support networks. Daily hassle levels correlated with severity of disability, and differences in psychological coping were also observed. Children from RA families reported nearly 50% more hassles per week than did controls, and their social networks were significantly smaller. They were rated as having greater problems of social adjustment than controls. Cortisol concentration was greater among children who experienced more life event stress over the study period, but did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

The patients with RA in this study showed good adaptation, but experienced less pleasure in their daily lives. The children of patients with RA may have heightened vulnerability to stress related problems, with fewer social resources and difficulties in behavioral adjustment.

Source: Europe PubMed Central