Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children with Chronic Physical Illness

Abstract

Children with chronic illness are known to have an increased risk of emotional and behavioral problems. Many studies have been conducted to identify risk and resistance factors associated with differences in adjustment among these children. It is a major theoretical framework of the Wallander and Varni model that modifiable risk and resistance factors can be identified empirically. Risk factors in the original model include disease/ disability parameters, functional dependence in the activities of daily living, and psychosocial stressors. Resistance factors in the original model are delineated in three categories: intrapersonal factors such as competence, temperament; socialecological factors such as family psychological environment, social support; and stressprocessing factors such as cognitive appraisal and coping strategies. In addition, it is proposed that the factors such as age of onset, certainty of diagnosis and prognosis of illness affect adjustment. Children with chronic illness are known to have an increased risk of emotional, behavioral, academic problems. Research findings show that children with chronic illnesses are at a higher risk for developing emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, social withdrawal and low self-esteem. The parents of children with Type 1 diabetes and asthma reported emotional and behavioral problems more. Also children with chronic illness tend to more behavior problems than healthy peers. Especially, increased risk of children with neurological conditions is explained by the lower level of cognitive functioning. The association of poor school performance with type I diabetes and sickle cell anemia is proposed.