Parents' Self-Identified Stressors and Coping Strategies During Adolescents' Spinal Surgery Experiences

Michele H. Salisbury, Lynda L. LaMontagne, Joseph T. Hepworth and Frances Cohen
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Michele H. Salisbury: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville
Lynda L. LaMontagne: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville lynda.lamontagne@vanderbilt.edu.
Joseph T. Hepworth: University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson
Frances Cohen: University of California-San Francisco

Clinical Nursing Research, 2007, vol. 16, issue 3, 212-230

Abstract: Spinal fusion surgery for idiopathic scoliosis during adolescence is a tremendous stressor for parents. This study investigated parents' pre- and postoperative stressors and their coping strategies. Ninety-two parents identified their predominant stressor and completed the Ways of Coping Questionnaire during their adolescent's preoperative clinic visit and 77 completed this procedure 4 days postoperatively. Results showed that primary stressors were parental role loss (28.26%), possibility of poor surgical outcomes (28.26%), and uncertainty about successful recovery (27.17%) preoperatively, and concerns about pain (32.47%) and parental role loss (32.47%) postoperatively. The greatest increase from pre- to postoperative periods occurred in concerns about pain. Parents used both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies with significant increases postoperatively in confrontive coping, planful problem solving, and positive reappraisal and significant decreases in self-control and seeking social support. Providers should target interventions to alleviate stress and bolster coping for parents.

Keywords: parental stress; coping; scoliosis; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:clnure:v:16:y:2007:i:3:p:212-230

DOI: 10.1177/1054773807302732

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