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A Model of the Effects of Parental Illness on Youth Adjustment and Family Functioning: The Moderating Effects of Psychological Flexibility on Youth Caregiving and Stress

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  • Giulia Landi

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Europa 115, 47023 Cesena, Italy)

  • Kenneth Ian Pakenham

    (School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia)

  • Mariagrazia Benassi

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Sara Giovagnoli

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Eliana Tossani

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Europa 115, 47023 Cesena, Italy
    Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy)

  • Silvana Grandi

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Europa 115, 47023 Cesena, Italy)

Abstract

Parental chronic illness may adversely impact youth and family functioning. This study examined a moderated mediation model of the effects of parental illness on youth and family functioning derived from the Family Ecology Framework. Consistent with this model, we predicted that youth caregiving and stress would serially mediate the adverse impacts of parental illness on youth adjustment and family functioning and that psychological flexibility would moderate these mediational mechanisms. A total of 387 youth, with parents affected by chronic illness, completed a questionnaire assessing parental illness severity, youth caregiving and stress, psychological flexibility, youth adjustment (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems and psychological wellbeing), and family functioning. Path analyses indicated that the adverse effects of parental illness on youth adjustment and family functioning were serially mediated by youth caregiving and stress. Psychological flexibility buffered the adverse effects of these serial mediators on youth internalizing problems and psychological wellbeing. These findings identified three potential intervention targets: youth caregiving, related stress appraisals, and psychological flexibility. Given the large body of evidence showing that acceptance and commitment therapy fosters psychological flexibility, this intervention approach has the potential to address the psychosocial and mental health vulnerabilities of youth in the context of parental illness, which constitutes a serious public health issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulia Landi & Kenneth Ian Pakenham & Mariagrazia Benassi & Sara Giovagnoli & Eliana Tossani & Silvana Grandi, 2021. "A Model of the Effects of Parental Illness on Youth Adjustment and Family Functioning: The Moderating Effects of Psychological Flexibility on Youth Caregiving and Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4902-:d:548840
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Esther I. Bruin & Dominik S. Sieh & Bonne J. H. Zijlstra & Anne-Marie Meijer, 2018. "Chronic Childhood Stress: Psychometric Properties of the Chronic Stress Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (CSQ-CA) in Three Independent Samples," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(4), pages 1389-1406, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jade Pilato & Géraldine Dorard & Basilie Chevrier & Agnes Leu & Aurélie Untas, 2022. "Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness: A Person-Oriented Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Giulia Landi & Kenneth I. Pakenham & Silvana Grandi & Eliana Tossani, 2022. "Young Adult Carers during the Pandemic: The Effects of Parental Illness and Other Ill Family Members on COVID-19-Related and General Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Giulia Landi & Kenneth I. Pakenham & Roberto Cattivelli & Silvana Grandi & Eliana Tossani, 2022. "Caregiving Responsibilities and Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adult Carers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Anna Guerrini Usubini & Roberto Cattivelli & Asia Radaelli & Michela Bottacchi & Giulia Landi & Eliana Tossani & Silvana Grandi & Gianluca Castelnuovo & Alessandro Sartorio, 2022. "Preliminary Results from the ACTyourCHANGE in Teens Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents with Obesity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.

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