Family functioning, neurocognitive functioning, and behavior problems in children with sickle cell disease

Robert J. Thompson, F. Daniel Armstrong, William G. Kronenberger, David Scott, Mary Ann McCabe, Bruce Smith, Jerilyn Radcliffe, Linda Colangelo, Dianne Gallagher, Shaheen Islam, Elizabeth Wright

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)491-498
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Pediatric Psychology
Volume24
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Family functioning
  • Neurocognitive functioning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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