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Journal of Pediatric Psychology 23(5) pp. 301-312, 1998
© 1998 Society of Pediatric Psychology

research-article

Psychological Adjustment of Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease: Relations With Demographic, Medical, and Family Competence Variables

Randi S. Kell, PhD1, Wendy Kliewer, PhD1,, Marilyn T. Erickson, PhD1 and Kwaku Ohene-Frempong, MD2

1Virginia Commonwealth University, 2Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

All correspondence should be sent to Wendy Kliewer, Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, P. O. Box 842018, Richmond, Virginia. E-mail: wkliewer{at}satiirn.vcu.edu.

Objective: Investigate the hypothesis that family competence in addressing challenges associated with sickle cell disease (SCD) contributes to adolescents' adjustment.

Method: During routine clinic appointments, 80 adolescents (M age = 14·4 years) and their parents independently completed the Self-Report Family Inventory (SFI), which assesses family competence, and measures of adolescent adjustment problems. Information related to disease severity was obtained from clinic files.

Results: Regression analyses controlling for demographic and medical variables revealed that higher family competence was associated with fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviors by the adolescent; these relations were particularly true for younger adolescents and for girls. Parental reports of somatic complaints in girls were predicted by parental ratings of family competence.

Discussion: Interventions for adolescents with SCD should be family-centered and should focus on strengthening the family's ability to manage stressors associated with parenting an adolescent with a chronic illness.

Key words: sickle cell disease; family competence; adjustment; adolescents.


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