Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa

Studies show elevated levels of psychological distress among aquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-orphaed children. Caregiving factors are critical in child mental health, but little is known about their effects among AIDS-orphaned children. This study aimed to explore whether caregiving factor...

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Autors principals: Cluver, L, Operario, D, Gardner, F
Format: Journal article
Idioma:English
Publicat: Routledge 2009
Matèries:
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author Cluver, L
Operario, D
Gardner, F
author_facet Cluver, L
Operario, D
Gardner, F
author_sort Cluver, L
collection OXFORD
description Studies show elevated levels of psychological distress among aquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-orphaed children. Caregiving factors are critical in child mental health, but little is known about their effects among AIDS-orphaned children. This study aimed to explore whether caregiving factors (e.g. caregiver illness, monitoring and abuse) mediated between orphanhood status and psychological problems. A total of 1025 children and adolescents (aged 10-19 years), living in South African urban informal settlements, were interviewed using sociodemographic questionnaires and standardized psychological scales of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, peer problems, delinquency and conduct problems. AIDS-orphaned children (n=425) were compared to control groups of other-orphans (n=241) and non-orphans (n=278). Results showed that child abuse, domestic violence, sibling dispersion and changes of caregiver were associated with psychological problems for all children, but did not mediate between orphanhood and psychological distress. AIDS-orphaned children reported more caregiver illness and excessove housework, and these two factors mediated the strong associations between psychological distress and AIDS-orphanhood. These findings suggest that interventions addressing caregiver ill-health and supporting young carers may have potential to ameliorate psychological distress among AIDS-orphaned children.
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spelling oxford-uuid:3e3b5f22-a8a1-489c-9f36-df5a849720c12022-03-26T14:24:17ZParental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South AfricaJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:3e3b5f22-a8a1-489c-9f36-df5a849720c1Health and health policySocial policy & social workFamilies,children and childcareEnglishOxford University Research Archive - ValetRoutledge2009Cluver, LOperario, DGardner, FStudies show elevated levels of psychological distress among aquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-orphaed children. Caregiving factors are critical in child mental health, but little is known about their effects among AIDS-orphaned children. This study aimed to explore whether caregiving factors (e.g. caregiver illness, monitoring and abuse) mediated between orphanhood status and psychological problems. A total of 1025 children and adolescents (aged 10-19 years), living in South African urban informal settlements, were interviewed using sociodemographic questionnaires and standardized psychological scales of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, peer problems, delinquency and conduct problems. AIDS-orphaned children (n=425) were compared to control groups of other-orphans (n=241) and non-orphans (n=278). Results showed that child abuse, domestic violence, sibling dispersion and changes of caregiver were associated with psychological problems for all children, but did not mediate between orphanhood and psychological distress. AIDS-orphaned children reported more caregiver illness and excessove housework, and these two factors mediated the strong associations between psychological distress and AIDS-orphanhood. These findings suggest that interventions addressing caregiver ill-health and supporting young carers may have potential to ameliorate psychological distress among AIDS-orphaned children.
spellingShingle Health and health policy
Social policy & social work
Families,children and childcare
Cluver, L
Operario, D
Gardner, F
Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa
title Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa
title_full Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa
title_fullStr Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa
title_short Parental illness, caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in South Africa
title_sort parental illness caregiving factors and psychological distress among children orphaned by acquired immune deficiency syndrome aids in south africa
topic Health and health policy
Social policy & social work
Families,children and childcare
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