Stress and emotion regulation strategies in parents of youngsters with a congenital heart disease (CHD) in comparison to healthy controls

Abstract

Objective

Due to their children's medical vulnerability, parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are often faced with overwhelming emotions. This exploratory study examines whether differences exist between parents of children with CHD and parents of children without any chronic medical conditions, regarding experienced parental stress and their use of emotion regulation strategies (ERS).

Study design

A sample of parents from children aged 8 to 18-years with CHD (N = 217) was compared with parents of a control group (N = 232). Both mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires on overall parental stress (NOSI-K) and parental ERS (FEEL-E).

Results

After controlling for parental education level, no significant differences in parental stress were found between both groups, neither for mothers nor fathers. There were also no group differences in overall use of adaptive or maladaptive ERS, nor in the use of specific adaptive ERS. However, mothers of children with CHD showed differences in some specific maladaptive ERS, as they tended to self-devaluate more and have more negative thoughts than mothers of the control group.

Conclusions

Although parents of children with CHD report no differences in overall parental stress or adaptive ERS use, mothers tended to self-devaluate more and think more negatively. Caring for a child with CHD is burdensome, which can contribute to mothers heightened self-devaluation and negative thinking. Nurses, as trusted and approachable professionals, can offer accessible psychosocial support and practical tools for stress and emotional management within patient- and family-centered care.