The Effects of Having a Chronically Ill Parent on College Adjustment
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Authors
Kimrey, Kylie
Issue Date
2024-03-29
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Chronic Illness , College students
Alternative Title
Abstract
Chronic illness is common in the United States. Approximately 45% of Americans will have at least one chronic disease in their lifetime, and this number continues to increase (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2018). Although various chronic illnesses have a high likelihood of mortality, life expectancies have increased due to advances in modern medicine (Armistead et al., 1995). With longer expected lifespans, it follows that more care will take place in the home. Because of this, not only does the chronically ill individual face psychological, economic, and social stressors that accompany the disease, but so do others in the household, including their children (Sieh et al., 2012). Various studies have investigated the effects of having a chronically ill parent on young children (Elliott et al., 2020; Razaz et al., 2014; Sieh et al., 2010). These studies indicated young children with chronically ill parents showed internalizing complaints such as anxiety, depression, withdrawn behavior; externalizing behaviors such as aggression and delinquency; and psychosomatic symptoms. Although multiple studies have been conducted on younger children, the literature is sparse regarding college students. Given the profound impact an ill parent may have on children, it is worthwhile to explore this impact on young adults’ adaptation to college to identify how to better support incoming college students. With the use of the Brief Cope, The College Adjustment Test (CAT), Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPAA), and the University Belonging Questionnaire (UBQ), we assessed self-reported coping skills, adjustment, attachment, and University sense of belonging in participants who have grown up with a chronically ill parent compared to those without a chronically ill parent. The sample consisted of 232 participants who were students from a Midwestern University enrolled in psychology courses. Results indicated there was a significant difference in overall adjustment scores and coping style differences between college students who had a chronically ill parent and students who did not. Further research with more participants should be conducted to expand the knowledge of how parental chronic illness affects college students, as well as to develop interventions for young adults with chronically ill parents to lead to better college adjustment and decreased attrition.
Description
Citation
Publisher
Washburn University