Research conducted primarily over the past 5–8 years on
the psychosocial effects of pediatric
chronic physical disorders on children and their families is reviewed.
A large body of studies
show that both children and their mothers, as groups, are at increased
risk for psychosocial
adjustment problems compared to peers, but that there is considerable individual
variation
in outcome. Since the last review on this topic (Eiser, 1990a), many studies
have been
conducted to identify risk and resistance factors associated with differences
in adjustment
among these children and their mothers. Improvements are noted in the theoretical
basis for
this work, programmatic nature of some of the research, and efforts at
producing clinically
relevant information. Evaluations of interventions, however, are lagging.
Critical issues and
future directions regarding developmental approaches, theory, method, measurement,
and
intervention are discussed.