Spending Time with Mothers as a Resource for Children with Chronic Diseases: A Comparison of Asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, and Cancer during COVID-19 Pandemic

Silvia Spaggiari (), Virginia Forlini, Silvia Carraro, Valentina Agnese Ferraro, Stefania Zanconato, Maria Montanaro, Valerio Cecinati, Silvana Zaffani, Claudio Maffeis and Daniela Di Riso
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Silvia Spaggiari: Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology (DPSS), University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy
Virginia Forlini: Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology (DPSS), University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy
Silvia Carraro: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Valentina Agnese Ferraro: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Stefania Zanconato: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Maria Montanaro: Complex Structure of Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncohematology “Nadia Toffa”, Central Hospital Santissima Annunziata, 74121 Taranto, Italy
Valerio Cecinati: Complex Structure of Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncohematology “Nadia Toffa”, Central Hospital Santissima Annunziata, 74121 Taranto, Italy
Silvana Zaffani: Pediatric Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Claudio Maffeis: Pediatric Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Daniela Di Riso: Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology (DPSS), University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many families had to manage new difficulties, especially those of chronically ill children. More and more research has focused on the negative effects of the pandemic on psychological wellbeing, while less is known about the resources. The present study aimed to explore the role of time spent with mothers in chronically ill children’s populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it explored the differences in mothers’ and children’s psychosocial functioning in three clinical populations. Four groups were recruited and compared: 7–15 year old children with asthma (45), type 1 diabetes (52), and cancer (33), as well as their healthy counterparts (41), and their respective mothers. They were administered standardized questionnaires and ad hoc surveys assessing psychological wellbeing and worries. Children of the four groups scored significantly differently with respect to the concerns for contagion, internalizing symptoms, and prosocial behaviors; mothers had worries about the consequences of their children’s contagion related to the chronic illness, as well as time with the child. The multiple linear regression model showed an association of being affected by cancer, suffering from type 1 diabetes, and spending less time with the child with an increase in children’s internalizing problems. Time with mothers seemed to be a resource for psychological wellbeing during the pandemic. Clinical implications are discussed.

Keywords: time spent with mothers; chronically ill children; COVID-19 pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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