Abstract
Objective: To investigate the independent and combined contributions of neurocognitive and family functioning to mother-reported behavior problems in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and evaluate the factor structure of the Family Environment Scale (FES) with African American families. Method: The study sample included 289 children enrolled in the multisite Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease. The study protocol included neuropsychological evaluation and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the children, and mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist and Family Environment Scale. Results: With child and maternal demographic parameters controlled, conflicted family functioning, but not neurocognitive functioning, accounted for a significant portion of the variance in mother-reported behavior problems. The factor structure of the FES for families of children with SCD was found to be similar to that for other families. Conclusions: Family functioning may be a salient target for fostering adaptation to chronic childhood illness.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 491-498 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Pediatric Psychology |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Family functioning
- Neurocognitive functioning
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology