Parental health locus of control and adaptation in pediatric palliative care

Health locus of control beliefs refer to the causes that an individual assumes as factors influencing health conditions. These cognitions are related to parental emotional well-being and adaptation to child’s life-threatening illness (Brown et al., 2007). Aim of the study was to assess health locus of control beliefs in parents attending a home-based paediatric palliative care service. Participants (15 mothers and 11 fathers) completed i) the PHLOC (DeVellis, 1993) questionnaire on cognitions about who or what affects the child’s health (child, divine, fate, media, parental or professional influences), ii) the PSI-SF (Abidin, 1995) for stress associated to parental role, iii) a survey assessing uncertainly, negative feelings and parental strengths to cope with chronic disease (van der Borne et al., 1999). Fathers and mothers resulted similar for beliefs, stress levels and experiences related to disease. PHLOC scores showed these parents seemed more likely to think that the son's health depended on divine influence and less on external imponderables factors (the fate) than adults of normative group (Bonichini et al., 2009). However, they did not differ from this comparison group for the importance given to health professionals. Perceived stress resulted significantly associated with depression and parent’s uncertainties linked to illness and future. Practical implications for professionals dealing with the needs of children and their families in palliative cares are discussed.