Eur J Pediatr Surg 2014; 24(01): 070-074
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1353491
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anxiety and Quality of Life of Parents with Children Diagnosed with an Anorectal Malformation or Hirschsprung Disease

Marieke Witvliet
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgical Center of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital AMC and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Christine Sleeboom
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgical Center of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital AMC and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Justin de Jong
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgical Center of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital AMC and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Anton van Dijk
2   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
,
Sander Zwaveling
3   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital UMCU, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Alida van der Steeg
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgical Center of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital AMC and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
4   Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 May 2013

16 July 2013

Publication Date:
21 August 2013 (online)

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in anxiety and quality of life (QOL) between mothers and fathers of children with anorectal malformations (ARM) or Hirschsprung disease (HD). In addition, anxiety of parents of newborns was compared with parents of children in the age-group of 10 to 13 years.

Methods Parents of 44 patients with ARM or HD completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF (26 items) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-trait 10 items, STAI-state 6 items). They were divided into two groups according to their children's age (0–4 years and 10–13 years).

Results Overall mothers scored significantly worse than fathers on state anxiety (p = 0.005). Trait anxiety was not significantly different between mothers and fathers. The psychological domain of the WHOQOL-BREF was significantly different between parents (p = 0.016), with mothers scoring worse. Dividing the group in newborns and school going children mothers of newborns showed significantly more state anxiety compared with fathers of newborns (p = 0.016). In the group of older children, both anxiety and QOL were not significantly different between fathers and mothers. Comparing mothers of newborns with mothers of older children, the first group scored higher on state anxiety, but this difference was not significant (p = 0.138; 95% confidence interval, 0.535–3.717).

Conclusions Mothers of newborns have a higher level of anxiety than fathers of newborns with ARM or HD. When children with ARM or HD become older, this difference in anxiety between parents is not significant anymore. This may be explained by coping strategies.

 
  • Reference

  • 1 Holschneider AM, Hudson JM. Anorectal Malformations in Children. Springer-Verlag: Berlin Heidelberg; 2006
  • 2 Chumpitazi BP, Nurko S. Defecation disorders in children after surgery for Hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 53 (1) 75-79
  • 3 Hartman EE, Oort FJ, Aronson DC , et al. Critical factors affecting quality of life of adult patients with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung's disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2004; 99 (5) 907-913
  • 4 Hartman EE, Oort FJ, Visser MR , et al. Explaining change over time in quality of life of adult patients with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung's disease. Dis Colon Rectum 2006; 49 (1) 96-103
  • 5 Hartman EE, Oort FJ, Aronson DC , et al. Explaining change in quality of life of children and adolescents with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung disease. Pediatrics 2007; 119 (2) e374-e383
  • 6 Hartman EE, Oort FJ, Sprangers MA , et al. Factors affecting quality of life of children and adolescents with anorectal malformations or Hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008; 47 (4) 463-471
  • 7 Funakosi S, Hayashi J, Kamiyama T , et al. Psychosocial liaison-consultation for the children who have undergone repair of imperforate anus and Hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Surg 2005; 40 (7) 1156-1162
  • 8 van Dijk M, de Vries GJ, Last BFT , et al. Chapter 6: Parental child-rearing attitudes are associated with functional constipation in childhood. Thesis 89-100
  • 9 Amendola S, De Angelis P, Dall'oglio L, Di Abriola GF, Di Lorenzo M. Combined approach to functional constipation in children. J Pediatr Surg 2003; 38 (5) 819-823
  • 10 The WHOQOL group. Development of the WHOQOL: rationale and current status. Int J Ment Health 1994; 23: 24-56
  • 11 Marteau TM, Bekker H. The development of a six-item short-form of the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Br J Clin Psychol 1992; 31 (Pt 3) 301-306
  • 12 Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL, Lushene RE. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press; 1970
  • 13 van der Bij AK, de Weerd S, Cikot RJ, Steegers EA, Braspenning JC. Validation of the Dutch short form of the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: considerations for usage in screening outcomes. Community Genet 2003; 6 (2) 84-87
  • 14 Van der Ploeg HM, Defares PB, Spielberger CD. ZAV: A Dutch-language adaptation of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Lisse: The Netherlands: Swets and Zeitlinger; 1980
  • 15 Rojas-Carrasco KE. [The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for parents who have hospitalized children in an intensive care unit]. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2010; 48 (5) 491-496
  • 16 Gau BS, Chen YC, Lo LH , et al. Clinical applicability of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) to mothers of children with asthma in Taiwan. J Clin Nurs 2010; 19 (5-6) 811-819
  • 17 García-Alberca JM, Lara JP, Berthier ML. Anxiety and depression in caregivers are associated with patient and caregiver characteristics in Alzheimer's disease. Int J Psychiatry Med 2011; 41 (1) 57-69
  • 18 Garnefski N, Kraaij V, Benoist M , et al. Cognitive behavioral self-help intervention reduces depression and anxiety and improves coping self-efficacy in people with rheumatism. Arthritis Care Res 2013; 65 (7) 1077-1084
  • 19 Kong LP, Cui Y, Qiu YF, Han SP, Yu ZB, Guo XR. Anxiety and depression in parents of sick neonates: a hospital-based study. J Clin Nurs 2013; 22 (7-8) 1163-1172
  • 20 Barlow J, Coren E. Parent-training programmes for improving maternal psychosocial health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004; (1) CD002020
  • 21 Barlow J, Smailagic N, Huband N, Roloff V, Bennett C. Group-based parent training programmes for improving parental psychosocial health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 6: CD002020
  • 22 Christensen AI, Ekholm O, Glümer C, Juel K. Effect of survey mode on response patterns: comparison of face-to-face and self-administered modes in health surveys. Eur J Public Health 2013;
  • 23 Eiser C, Mohay H, Morse R. The measurement of quality of life in young children. Child Care Health Dev 2000; 26 (5) 401-414