Psychosocial Correlates of Incidence of Attacks in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Authors: Gidron Y.¹; Berkovitch M.²; Press J.³

Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Volume 26, Number 2, April 2003 , pp. 95-104(10)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This study tested the relationship between psychosocial factors and incidence of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) attacks. Forty-five children with FMF were studied retrospectively. Parents assessed their child's hostility, perceived-control, illness-behavior encouragement (IBE), family dysfunction, and reported number of attacks during the last 12 months. Hostility was positively correlated with number of attacks, especially in children below age 10 and in girls. Family dysfunction was positively correlated with attacks in girls and in children at or above age 10. IBE was inversely correlated with attacks in older children. In children below age 10, number of siblings was positively correlated with attacks, and negatively correlated with attacks in the older group. Psychosocial factors explained 27% of the variability in attacks, after controlling for age and number of siblings, with hostility remaining the only significant predictor of attacks. These findings, if replicated in a prospective study, may guide interventions for preventing FMF attacks.

Keywords: Familial Mediterranean Fever; psychosocial correlates; hostility; children

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Sociology of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel; yorig@bgumail.bgu.ac.il 2: Department of Pediatrics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel 3: Rheumatology Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Publication date: 2003-04-01