Coping strategies of chronically ill adolescents and their parents.

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to determine the coping strategies used by adolescents with chronic illnesses and compare those strategies with the strategies used by their parents. Adolescent coping strategies were measured by the Jaloweic Coping Scale, while parental perceptions of their coping strategies were assessed using the Hymovich Chronicity Impact and Coping Instruments: Parent Questionnaire (CICI:PQ). Fifteen chronically ill adolescents and their parents were administered the tools. Analysis revealed that there were significant differences between the parent coping strategies and those of the adolescents in the sample. Adolescent responses on the three subscales of the Jaloweic Coping Scale were analysed using ANOVA, resulting in no significant differences in responses on the three subscales.