Mental health of parents of children and adolescents who require special health care.
Eliana Roldão Dos Santos Nonose, Rosane Meire Munhak da Silva, Eliane Tatsch Neves and 4 others
PMID 39082548WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of children needing special care described exhausting routines, guilt and fear of losing the child, which strained their mental health.
Some described lacking support, and stigma pushed families to withdraw.
Key findings
01Parents described a tiring care routine that overloaded them, reduced their personal and social life, and threatened their mental health.
02Parents reported guilt about their child's condition and constant fear of losing the child, which affected family life and care.
03Parents described isolation, stigma, and sometimes giving up employment as part of the burden of care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Qualitative study, so it describes parents' experiences, not how common they are or whether they caused mental health problems. Only 16 mothers and 2 fathers were interviewed, mostly mothers, so it may not reflect fathers or other family structures. It was done in hospital pediatric units, so it may not capture needs once families go home. Data came from interviews and a vulnerability framework; themes may be shaped by the researchers' interpretation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that parents of children needing special care have a measured mental health problem or that support will prevent one. This is a qualitative study of 16 mothers and 2 fathers, and it reports themes about routine, guilt and fear, not outcomes.