Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Barkmann, C. Articles by Schulte-Markwort, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Barkmann, C. Articles by Schulte-Markwort, M. Miscellaneous Childhood Disorders

Parental Physical Illness as a Risk for Psychosocial Maladjustment in Children and Adolescents: Epidemiological Findings From a National Survey in Germany

Received June 15, 2006; revised June 23, 2006; accepted July 7, 2006. From University Hospital, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany; Royal Marsden Hospital; and the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, U.K. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Claus Barkmann, Ph.D., M.P.H., Child Psychosomatics (W29), University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20146 Hamburg, Germany. e-mail: barkmann{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de
© 2007 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

The authors assessed the risk for psychosocial maladjustment in a population-based sample of dependent children of parents with serious physical illness. In the context of The Hamburg Health Survey, a wide range of data on current life situation and health status was collected from a representative sample of families with children and adolescents between 4 and 18 years old (N=1,950). For 4- to 18-year-old children and adolescents in Germany, the prevalence of a serious physical illness in a parent was 4.1%. The adjusted risk of psychosocial maladjustment in this target group, depending on the case definition, is elevated, with internalizing problems being more prevalent than externalizing problems. Although problems for affected boys decline with puberty, they increase for girls. In this age-group, girls and boys appear to be under particular strain when the respective same-sex parent has a serious physical illness. Exposure to serious parental physical illness is an epidemiologically relevant risk factor for psychosocial maladjustment in children and adolescents that needs to be better recognized by medical professionals.

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2007 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us