This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow P3Rs: View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mattie-Luksic, M.
Right arrow Articles by MD, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mattie-Luksic, M.
Right arrow Articles by MD, J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Respiratory Tract
Right arrow Office Practice

PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 1 July 2000, pp. 1-5

Assessment of Stress in Mothers of Children With Severe Breath-Holding Spells

Received Mar 19, 1999; accepted Oct 25, 1999.

Michele Mattie-Luksic, Gregory Javornisky, Francis J. DiMario, and Jr, MD

From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut; and the University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut.

Background.  Severe breath-holding spells (BHS) in children consist of a stereotypical sequence of provocation to cry, noiseless expiration, color change, and loss of consciousness. Parenting a child who exhibits BHS is likely more stressful than parenting a healthy child, owing to this additional medical concern. It is also likely more stressful than parenting a child with a convulsive seizure disorder (SD), because it is often not recognized or misdiagnosed as behavioral rather than medical. Mothers of children with BHS were hypothesized to suffer significantly greater stress than mothers of children with SD or mothers of children without any significant medical conditions.

Objectives.  To examine maternal stress in parenting a child who exhibits BHS, and to identify the specific areas of stress impact, compared with mothers of children with a convulsive SD and mothers of control children.

Methods.  The Parenting Stress Index and questions regarding how mothers coped were individually administered to 34 mothers of children with BHS, 16 mothers of children with SD, and 16 mothers of children with no medical conditions (controls).

Results.  Mothers of children with BHS or SD experience more overall stress and disruption in their attachment or understanding of their child, compared with control mothers. These groups of mothers (BHS and SD) also perceived their child as more distractible/hyperactive, less adaptive, and more demanding than did control mothers. However, mothers of the BHS group alone showed significant disruption in their sense of competence as a parent, maintaining self-identity, and receiving positive reinforcement from their child. Mothers of children with SD showed a similar trend, but it was not significant. These findings were not related to maternal health or feelings of depression/isolation, insufficient spousal support, child's mood, or other life stresses.

Conclusion.  Parenting a child with BHS or SD impacts a greater degree of life stress on mothers of these children than does parenting control children, although the stress is greater for the BHS group than for the SD group.  Key words:  parenting, behavior, breath-holding spells, seizures, mothers.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 TRENDS AMPLIFHome page
D. S. Ross, W. J. Holstrum, M. Gaffney, D. Green, R. F. Oyler, and J. S. Gravel
Hearing Screening and Diagnostic Evaluation of Children With Unilateral and Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss
Trends in Amplification, March 1, 2008; 12(1): 27 - 34.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 TRENDS AMPLIFHome page
W. J. Holstrum, M. Gaffney, J. S. Gravel, R. F. Oyler, and D. S. Ross
Early Intervention for Children With Unilateral and Mild Bilateral Degrees of Hearing Loss
Trends in Amplification, March 1, 2008; 12(1): 35 - 41.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Communication Disorders QuarterlyHome page
C. W. Jackson, R. J. Traub, and A. P. Turnbull
Parents' Experiences With Childhood Deafness: Implications for Family-Centered Services
Communication Disorders Quarterly, February 1, 2008; 29(2): 82 - 98.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Trop PediatrHome page
L. Trois, E. M. Cardoso, and E. Miura
Use of Probiotics in HIV-infected Children: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Study
J Trop Pediatr, February 1, 2008; 54(1): 19 - 24.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc.Home page
M. S. Judge
Infection and Neuroarthropathy: The Utility of C-reactive Protein as a Screening Tool in the Charcot Foot
J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, January 1, 2008; 98(1): 1 - 6.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Transcult NursHome page
O. G. Baker and V. Rice
Predictors of Narghile (Water-Pipe) Smoking in a Sample of American Arab Yemeni Adolescents
J Transcult Nurs, January 1, 2008; 19(1): 24 - 32.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
P. Tehranifar, J. Leighton, A. H. Auchincloss, A. Faciano, H. Alper, A. Paykin, and S. Wu
Immigration and Risk of Childhood Lead Poisoning: Findings From a Case-Control Study of New York City Children
Am J Public Health, January 1, 2008; 98(1): 92 - 97.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Toxicol SciHome page
R. L. Divi, S. L. Leonard, B. L. Walker, M. M. Kuo, M. E. Shockley, M. C. St Claire, K. Nagashima, S. W. Harbaugh, J. W. Harbaugh, and M. C. Poirier
Erythrocebus patas Monkey Offspring Exposed Perinatally to NRTIs Sustain Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Compromise at Birth and at 1 Year of Age
Toxicol. Sci., September 1, 2007; 99(1): 203 - 213.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeoReviewsHome page
M. F. B. de Almeida and C. M. Draque
Neonatal Jaundice and Breastfeeding
NeoReviews, July 1, 2007; 8(7): e282 - e288.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
K. K. Christoffel
Firearm Injuries: Epidemic Then, Endemic Now
Am J Public Health, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 626 - 629.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Child Health CareHome page
A. D. Christodoulos, A. D. Flouris, and S. P. Tokmakidis
Obesity and physical fitness of pre-adolescent children during the academic year and the summer period: effects of organized physical activity.
J Child Health Care, September 1, 2006; 10(3): 199 - 212.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 LSHSSHome page
J. R. Price, J. E. Roberts, and S. C. Jackson
Structural development of the fictional narratives of african american preschoolers.
Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch, July 1, 2006; 37(3): 178 - 190.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
I. Zakeri, M. R. Puyau, A. L. Adolph, F. A. Vohra, and N. F. Butte
Normalization of Energy Expenditure Data for Differences in Body Mass or Composition in Children and Adolescents
J. Nutr., May 1, 2006; 136(5): 1371 - 1376.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
L. D. Eggert, S. E. Wiedmeier, J. Wilson, and R. D. Christensen
The Effect of Instituting a Prehospital-Discharge Newborn Bilirubin Screening Program in an 18-Hospital Health System
Pediatrics, May 1, 2006; 117(5): e855 - e862.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
J. A. Lapidus, N. H. Smith, B. E. Ebel, and F. C. Romero
Restraint Use Among Northwest American Indian Children Traveling in Motor Vehicles
Am J Public Health, November 1, 2005; 95(11): 1982 - 1988.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Dent EducHome page
W. C. Gonsalves, J. Skelton, L. Heaton, T. Smith, G. Feretti, and J. D. Hardison
Family Medicine Residency Directors' Knowledge and Attitudes About Pediatric Oral Health Education for Residents
J Dent Educ., April 1, 2005; 69(4): 446 - 452.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Early InterventionHome page
J. L. Desjardin
Maternal Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Involvement in the Auditory Development of Young Children with Prelingual Deafness
Journal of Early Intervention, April 1, 2005; 27(3): 193 - 209.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 TRENDS AMPLIFHome page
G. Rance and D. Aud
Auditory Neuropathy/Dys-synchrony and Its Perceptual Consequences
Trends in Amplification, March 1, 2005; 9(1): 1 - 43.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 CVIHome page
A. J. De Baets, B. S. Edidi, M. J. Kasali, G. Beelaert, W. Schrooten, A. Litzroth, P. Kolsteren, D. Denolf, and K. Fransen
Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening in an African District Hospital
Clin. Vaccine Immunol., January 1, 2005; 12(1): 86 - 92.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.Home page
D Trevisanuto, M Micaglio, P Ferrarese, and V Zanardo
The laryngeal mask airway: potential applications in neonates
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2004; 89(6): F485 - F489.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
M. Weinberg, J. Hopkins, L. Farrington, L. Gresham, M. Ginsberg, and B. P. Bell
Hepatitis A in Hispanic Children Who Live Along the United States-Mexico Border: The Role of International Travel and Food-Borne Exposures
Pediatrics, July 1, 2004; 114(1): e68 - e73.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck SurgHome page
A. McConkey Robbins, D. B. Koch, M. J. Osberger, S. Zimmerman-Phillips, and L. Kishon-Rabin
Effect of Age at Cochlear Implantation on Auditory Skill Development in Infants and Toddlers
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, May 1, 2004; 130(5): 570 - 574.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
R. A. Schnoll and P. F. Engstrom
Tobacco Control in the Physician's Office: A Matter of Adequate Training and Resources
J Natl Cancer Inst, April 21, 2004; 96(8): 573 - 575.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Child NeurolHome page
G. Verlato, D. Gobber, D. Drago, L. Chiandetti, and P. Drigo
Guidelines for Resuscitation in the Delivery Room of Extremely Preterm Infants
J Child Neurol, January 1, 2004; 19(1): 31 - 34.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
M. S Treuth, N. F Butte, and J. D Sorkin
Predictors of body fat gain in nonobese girls with a familial predisposition to obesity
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2003; 78(6): 1212 - 1218.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
R. A. Schnoll, B. Zhang, M. Rue, J. E. Krook, W. T. Spears, A. C. Marcus, and P. F. Engstrom
Brief Physician-Initiated Quit-Smoking Strategies for Clinical Oncology Settings: A Trial Coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
J. Clin. Oncol., January 15, 2003; 21(2): 355 - 365.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
H. S. Bada, A. Das, C. R. Bauer, S. Shankaran, B. Lester, L. L. Wright, J. Verter, V. L. Smeriglio, L. P. Finnegan, and P. L. Maza
Gestational Cocaine Exposure and Intrauterine Growth: Maternal Lifestyle Study
Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2002; 100(5): 916 - 924.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
W. D. Engle, G. L. Jackson, D. Sendelbach, D. Manning, and W. H. Frawley
Assessment of a Transcutaneous Device in the Evaluation of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in a Primarily Hispanic Population
Pediatrics, July 1, 2002; 110(1): 61 - 67.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.Home page
V Tommiska, M Ostberg, and V Fellman
Parental stress in families of 2 year old extremely low birthweight infants
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., May 1, 2002; 86(3): F161 - F164.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
National Institutes of Health Consensus Developmen
National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: Phenylketonuria: Screening and Management, October 16-18, 2000
Pediatrics, October 1, 2001; 108(4): 972 - 982.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br Med BullHome page
P. J. Goulder, P. Jeena, G. Tudor-Williams, and S. Burchett
Paediatric HIV infection: correlates of protective immunity and global perspectives in prevention and management
Br. Med. Bull., September 1, 2001; 58(1): 89 - 108.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
K. R. Minter, J. E. Roberts, S. R. Hooper, M. R. Burchinal, and S. A. Zeisel
Early Childhood Otitis Media in Relation to Children's Attention-Related Behavior in the First Six Years of Life
Pediatrics, May 1, 2001; 107(5): 1037 - 1042.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

P3Rs:

Read all P3Rs

Breath-holding and then what?
Mats Reimer
Pediatrics Online, 5 Jul 2000 [Full text]