The psychological sequelae on mothers of thermally injured children and adolescents: future directions: Part 3.

Part 3 of this study focused on maternal psychopathology and relationship with their children in three groups, assessed in Parts 1 and 2. Evidence of greater psychopathology in the mothers of burned children was supported by findings of both interview and self-report data, which indicated more symptoms of worry, depression, tension, anxiety, lack of energy, lower self confidence with other people and guilt, compared with mothers of Fracture Clinic and Normal Controls. Marital and social functioning and adverse life events did not differentiate groups, with the exception of a significantly higher divorce rate in the parents of burned children, following thermal injury.