Abstract
Objective To examine the relationships among pediatric fatigue, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and family impact among children with special health care needs (CSHCNs), specifically whether HRQOL mediates the influence of fatigue on family impact. Methods 266 caregivers of CSHCNs were studied. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Scale, and Impact on Family Scale were used to measure fatigue, HRQOL, and family impact, respectively. Linear regressions were used to analyze the designated relationships; path analyses were performed to quantify the mediating effects of HRQOL on fatigue-family impact relationship. Results Although greater fatigue was associated with family impact (p <. 05), the association was not significant after accounting for HRQOL. Path analyses indicated the direct effect of fatigue on family impact was not significant (p >. 05), whereas physical and emotional functioning significantly mediated the fatigue-family impact relationship (p <. 001). Conclusion Fatigue is related to family impact among CSHCNs, acting through the impairment in HRQOL.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 722-731 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Pediatric Psychology |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- children with special health care needs
- chronic condition
- family impact
- fatigue
- quality of life
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology