Emotional Experiences and Communal Coping among Mothers of Children with Eczema

ABSTRACT This qualitative analysis focuses on the emotional experience and coping strategies of mothers of children with moderate and severe eczema. Interviews with 22 mothers addressed the following questions: What emotions characterize the mother-child relationship in the eczema context? What, if any, behaviors do mothers identify as communicating children’s emotions about the eczema experience? What specific coping behaviors and types do mothers use with their child in the eczema context? Findings reveal that mothers most commonly report experiencing anxiety, despair, shame, and compassion, while their children demonstrate externalizing and internalizing behaviors consistent with anger, anxiety, and depression. Coping behaviors include normalization, differentiation, and control, which reflect coping types described in the communal coping model. Theoretical implications address connections between emotion, coping, and resilience. Practical implications highlight areas of attention for mothers and professionals.