Titman, Penelope Susan; (2001) The psychological impact of skin disorders on children and their families. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis examined the impact of two different skin disorders on children and their families. The first skin disorder was the rare skin condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). This was studied using both quantitative and qualitative methodology. In the quantitative study, the relationship between the family environment, the severity of the condition and the psychological adjustment of the child and his or her parents was evaluated. The study showed that there was no correlation between the severity of the EB and the child's psychological adjustment. Although the results showed some evidence of a relationship between the severity of the illness and the psychological impact on the fathers, no relationship was found for the mothers. Families that were cohesive and had lower levels of conflict had children with significantly better psychological adjustment. In the qualitative study, the experiences of mothers of children with EB were described. Four central themes were identified as important features of the mothers' experiences and these are discussed in relation to existing research. The second disorder studied was the common condition of childhood eczema. The relationship between the severity of eczema, the mother's resolution of the child's condition, and the psychological adjustment of both the mother and the child was examined. A standardised interview was used to assess the mother's resolution of the child's eczema. Mothers who were resolved about the child's illness reported lower levels of parenting stress and psychological distress than mothers who were unresolved. The study showed that mothers caring for a child with eczema reported higher levels of parenting stress than a comparison group of mothers of children with other chronic illnesses. No differences in levels of psychological distress in the child or his or her mother were found between the children with eczema and the comparison group.

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