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Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on February 23, 2005
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsi037
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Journal of Pediatric Psychology © Society of Pediatric Psychology 2005; all rights reserved.
Received December 4, 2003
Revised August 5, 2004
Accepted September 1, 2004

Article

Adjustment to Chronic Arthritis of Childhood: The Roles of Illness-Related Stress and Attitude Toward Illness

Jennifer Soriano LeBovidge PhD1*, John V. Lavigne PhD2, and Michael L. Miller MD3

1 Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital Boston
2 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and
3 Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Jennifer Soriano LeBovidge, E-mail: jennifer.lebovidge{at}childrens.harvard.edu


  Abstract

Objective To examine the relationship of psychosocial stress and attitude toward illness to psychological adjustment among youth with chronic arthritis. Methods Seventy-five youths with chronic arthritis aged 8-18 years were administered a semi-structured interview assessing illness-related and nonillness-related stressors in important life domains. Children also completed measures of attitude toward illness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Parents completed a measure of child psychosocial adjustment. Results Higher levels of illness-related and nonillness-related stress were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-reported adjustment problems, while a more positive attitude toward illness was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attitude toward illness moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Results suggest the importance of assessing life stress and attitude toward illness among youth with arthritis and developing interventions to help children cope with arthritis-related stressors and promote a more positive attitude toward illness.

Keywords: chronic arthritis; juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; pediatric chronic illness; psychological adjustment; stress; attitudes toward illness.
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