Perceptions of Social Support by Parents of Chronically Ill Versus Healthy Children

Abstract

Based on a sample of 148 married adults, the present study found that parents of chronically ill children perceive a lesser amount of social support than do adults who parent children without illnesses Fathers of children with illnesses were least likely to perceive social supports in their environment Type of illness was also found to be a significant factor with parents of diabetic children perceiving the lowest levels of support The implications of the study are discussed in terms of clinical practice with families and future research into the role that the social perception of the seriousness of illness may play in eliciting aid from the supportive network.