The experience of children with a parent suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sci Rep
; 11(1): 16046, 2021 08 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1345578
ABSTRACT
Children that have a parent with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) suffer from the progressive loss of their beloved ones. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the difficulties faced by these children have increased. The study aimed to detect whether there were differences between the minors experiencing a relative's ALS and the minors with no experience of ALS and it aimed also to detect the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on these minors. The study involved Italian participants, in particular the target group consisted of 38 children (7-18 years) (T0/T1); the control group consisted of 38 children (9-14 years) (T0 only). The following variables were measured attachment with the Security Scale (SS), affects with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C), behavioural problems with Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), death representation with Testoni Death Representation Scale for Children (TDRS-C), self-concept with the Multidimensional Self Concept Scale (MSCS), resilience and socio-emotional skills with the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA). The results showed higher negative affectivity (p < .001), externalising behaviours (p < .05), uncertainty in reflective function (p < .05) in the target group compared to the control one; after the COVID-19 pandemic minors in the target group showed reduced certainty of mental states (p < .05) and interpersonal and scholastic self-esteem (p < .05). The impact of ALS on these minors is significant and produces negative affect, externalizing behaviours and uncertainty of mental states. The lockdown situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated minors in their school and interpersonal self-esteem.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Sci Rep
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41598-021-95338-3
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS