Parental attitudes toward children with a chronic medical disorder: special reference to diabetes mellitus.

Children who suffer from chronic medical disorders requiring continuous therapy create threatening situations for parents, which are often acute at diagnosis and may continue over the years. Many parental reactions and consequent emotional interactions with the children are common to all medical handicaps, but also vary with the nature of the particular disease and its treatment. Attitudes of parents to the diagnosis of a chronic handicap or medical disorder will always include some apprehension. This is usually more acute in mothers than in fathers, both by their nature and position of authority in the care of the child in most homes. Some anxiety is normal at diagnosis of a chronic ongoing illness in a child and may even help in making the mother more aware of the extra responsibility that has been thrust on her and give her the desire to manage the treatment well.