Anxiety, Coping and Social Support Among Parents Who Have Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Objective: Present study has been conducted to investigate anxiety levels, coping strategies, social support systems among parents who have children with chronic kidney disease and interrelations among the three indicators. Methods: This study has been planned among parents of 180 children with a chronic kidney disease being admitted to Hacettepe University, Children's Hospital, Nephrology Polyclinic. Sociodemographic information form, state & trait anxiety inventory and short form of the assessment scale for coping strategies have been employed as data gathering tools. Results: With respect to gender it was detected that mothers resorted to selfdistraction coping strategy and with respect to educational level, parents with no formal educational background resorted to denial. Trait anxiety score was the highest among parents whose children were in the second stage of disease. As the coping strategies among parents receiving social support in the treatment process was examined, it surfaced that positive reframing, acceptance, humor and use of emotional support and similar problem-focused coping strategies were more frequently opted for. Contrary to that, it was identified that among parents receiving no social support from their relatives, scores of self-blame, substance use and state anxiety were relatively higher. Conclusion: At the end of this study it was concluded that parents having children with a chronic kidney disease were more effective in utilizing social support mechanisms as a problem-focused coping strategy when compared to the other group of parents.