This Article Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by White, C. P. Articles by Bond, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by White, C. P. Articles by Bond, C. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Chronically ill mothers experiencing pain: relational coping strategies used while parenting young children

Department of Child Development and Family Relations, College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, 127 Rivers Building, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA, whitec{at}ecu.edu

Jaymi Mendoza

Department of Child Development and Family Relations, College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, 127 Rivers Building, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA

Mark B. White

Department of Child Development and Family Relations, College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, 127 Rivers Building, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA

Christy Bond

Department of Child Development and Family Relations, College of Human Ecology, East Carolina University, 127 Rivers Building, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA

Objective: There has been little research on women who are parenting while they experience pain and none of this research has focused on mothers with young children. The purpose of this study was to consider relational coping strategies generated by mothers that they used when parenting young children and experiencing pain.

Methods: Two-hundred sixty-two mothers participated in this survey research; 171 who have either multiple sclerosis (MS) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and a comparison group of 91well mothers. Mothers completed questionnaires inquiring about (a) their coping strategies, (b) levels of pain, fatigue and physical functioning, and (c) if they were currently experiencing an exacerbation of their chronic illness.

Results: Well mothers reported using more self-care when parenting while experiencing pain. Mothers with RA were more likely to set boundaries around their behaviour. Women with MS who were experiencing an exacerbation changed their coping strategies to include more child activities and encourage more mature child behaviour when compared to women with RA who were experiencing an exacerbation.

Discussion: From the perspective of relational coping theory, mothers consider their own pain while simultaneously attending to their responsibilities as a parent. Previous research has suggested that women may withdraw or reduce their parenting activities when they are in pain and this study supported the previous research, especially for women with RA.

Key Words: Coping strategies • Multiple sclerosis • Pain • Parenting • Relational coping • Rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic Illness, Vol. 5, No. 1, 33-45 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1742395309102820


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?