TY - JOUR
T1 - Fathers’ experiences of caring for a child with a chronic illness
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Spurr, Shelley
AU - Danford, Cynthia A.
AU - Roberts, Karyn J.
AU - Sheppard-LeMoine, Debbie
AU - Machado Silva-Rodrigues, Fernanda
AU - Darezzo Rodrigues Nunes, Michelle
AU - Darmofal, Leslie
AU - Ersig, Anne L.
AU - Foster, Mandie
AU - Giambra, Barbara
AU - Lerret, Stacee
AU - Polfuss, Michele
AU - Smith, Lindsay
AU - Somanadhan, Suja
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - The prevalence of children living with chronic health conditions is increasing worldwide and can disrupt family roles, relationships, function, and parental involvement in family caregiving. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore fathers’ experiences and involvement in caring for a child with a chronic condition. Systematic searches using seven databases were conducted. Study criteria included (1) peer-reviewed original research in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese, (2) children less than 19 years of age with a chronic condition, (3) fathers (biological or guardian) as direct informants, and (4) outcomes addressing fathers’ experience, perceptions, and/or involvement in the child’s care. Data were synthesized from ten articles reflecting eight separate studies that utilized quantitative designs. Three areas of focus were identified: Family Functioning, Father’s Psychological Health, and Need for Support. Data suggested increased involvement from the father in caring for their child with a chronic condition was associated with improved family functioning, increased anxiety and distress, decreased self-esteem, and increased need for support. This review revealed a paucity of data regarding fathers’ experiences and involvement when caring for a child with a chronic condition, with that available primarily from developed countries. Rigorous empirical studies are needed to deepen understanding of how fathers are involved in the care of their child with a chronic condition.
AB - The prevalence of children living with chronic health conditions is increasing worldwide and can disrupt family roles, relationships, function, and parental involvement in family caregiving. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore fathers’ experiences and involvement in caring for a child with a chronic condition. Systematic searches using seven databases were conducted. Study criteria included (1) peer-reviewed original research in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese, (2) children less than 19 years of age with a chronic condition, (3) fathers (biological or guardian) as direct informants, and (4) outcomes addressing fathers’ experience, perceptions, and/or involvement in the child’s care. Data were synthesized from ten articles reflecting eight separate studies that utilized quantitative designs. Three areas of focus were identified: Family Functioning, Father’s Psychological Health, and Need for Support. Data suggested increased involvement from the father in caring for their child with a chronic condition was associated with improved family functioning, increased anxiety and distress, decreased self-esteem, and increased need for support. This review revealed a paucity of data regarding fathers’ experiences and involvement when caring for a child with a chronic condition, with that available primarily from developed countries. Rigorous empirical studies are needed to deepen understanding of how fathers are involved in the care of their child with a chronic condition.
KW - chronic illness
KW - experiences
KW - fathers
KW - involvement
KW - systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148704232&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85148704232&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/children10020197
DO - 10.3390/children10020197
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36832326
AN - SCOPUS:85148704232
SN - 2227-9067
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 17
JO - Children
JF - Children
IS - 2
M1 - 197
ER -