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Parental Burden, Coping, and Family Functioning in Primary Caregivers of Children With Joubert Syndrome

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Duane E. Dede, PhD

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, ddede{at}hp.ufl.edu

Jill C. Gitten, BS

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Eileen Fennell, PhD

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA

Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Children with Joubert syndrome have physical and intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Joubert syndrome on parental burden, coping, and family functioning. Forty-nine primary caregivers were surveyed. Forty-three primary caregivers were mothers and six were fathers; their mean age was 34 years. The following measures were used: Beck Depression Inventory, Child Development Inventory, Caregiver Strain Index, Family Assessment Device, and Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised. The data show that caregiver burden is not related to the severity of the child's illness, but that caregivers report significant burden. Higher burden was associated with the use of palliative coping methods, and family functioning was problematic. The results of this study suggest that for parents of children with Joubert syndrome, degree of parental burden depends more on the parents' coping skills and the level of family functioning rather than on the degree of the child's impairment. These findings highlight the importance of assessing caregiver burden, as well as decreased family functioning or coping abilities, since these problems often can be managed with psychologic intervention. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:642-648).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 14, No. 10, 642-648 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/088307389901401004


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