Family adaptation to the child with cystic fibrosis

Characteristics of family adaptation to the illnesses of 65 children with cystic fibrosis have been examined. Methods have included survey by detailed questionnaire, individual parent interviews, and parent group discussions. The adaptive process appears to progress through prediagnostic, confrontational, long-term, and terminal stages. In the first 3 stages, key sources of parental stress and foci of parental anxiety have been identified. Certain phase-specific responses of the developing child to his disease which produce management crises are described. Observations concerning useful techniques of preventive and therapeutic intervention are presented.