Maternal child-rearing behavior in three groups: cystic fibrosis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and healthy children.

Compared child-rearing behaviors among mothers of children (ages 4-14) with cystic fibrosis (CF) (N = 26), insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (N = 26), and mothers of physically healthy children (N = 26), on six domains, including involvement, limit setting, responsiveness, reasoning and guidance, free expression, and intimacy using the Iowa Parent Behavior Inventory. Maternal Reports of their child-rearing behavior were comparable across the three groups with one exception: Mothers of children with chronic illnesses (CF and IDDM) were significantly less likely to set limits than mothers of healthy children. The present findings are consistent with those of other studies that have identified few differences in child-rearing practices between mothers of children with chronic illnesses and mothers of healthy children. Future research should identify situation-specific parenting tasks unique to childhood chronic illness.