Date of Award
Fall 11-19-2024
Embargo Period
6-1-2025
Document Type
Dissertation - MUSC Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science
Department
Nursing
College
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Shannon Phillips
Second Advisor
Leigh Ridings
Third Advisor
Martina Mueller
Fourth Advisor
John Costello
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to describe and test the role of coping processes in perceived stress and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and determine the influence of sociodemographic factors on these variables. We used a multi-methods design, guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, to examine the relationships among coping strategies, perceived stress, HRQoL, and sociodemographic factors in parents of children with CHD and to explore parent perceptions and experiences with stress and coping. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling by in-person efforts at Boston Children’s Hospital and advertising on social media support groups. Surveys were administered to parents of children with CHD through REDCap to examine the relationships among perceived stress, coping strategies, HRQoL, and sociodemographic factors using advanced statistical methods including mediation and moderation analysis. Purposeful sampling was utilized to identify a subset of participants interested in completing semi-structured interviews to explore parent perceptions of CHD-related stressors, past and current coping strategies, barriers and facilitators of effective coping, and preferences for future interventions. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding barriers and facilitators of effective coping and the role of different coping strategies in the relationship between stress and HRQoL for parents of children with CHD. The result is a comprehensive description of stress, coping, a HRQoL in parents of children with CHD with implications for future research, clinical intervention, and policy development.
Recommended Citation
Cole, Lianne, "Stress, Coping, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease" (2024). MUSC Theses and Dissertations. 975.
https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/theses/975
Rights
Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.