A Study on Family Functioning and Anxiety of Families with Chronic Illness

Kim, Ju Sung; Kim, Myung Hee

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information for developing family-focused nursing interventions for families with chronic illness. The subjects were 68 families of chronically ill patients in hospitalization and 68 families, as a comparison group, who didn't have chronically ill family members. The results of this study were as follows. 1. families with chronic illness showed higher anxiety scores(t=2.28, P=.024) and lower family functioning scores than normal families(the performance of family functioning : t=2.83, P=.005, the satisfaction of family functioning : t=5.76, P=.000) 2. In family caregiver systems, spouses of chronically ill patients showed higher anxiety scores(t=2.72, P=.008) and lower family functioning scores than those of normal families(the performance of family functioning : t=2.28, P=.026, the satisfaction of family functioning : t=4.41, P=.000) ; however, the anxiety scores between children of chronically ill patients and those of normal families were no statistically significant differences. with regard to satisfaction of family functioning, children of chronically ill patients showed lower scores than those of normal family(t=3.85, P=.000). 3. In families with chronic illness, there were significantly positive correlations between the perceived importance of family functioning and anxiety(r=.415, P=.001) and between the performance and satisfaction of family functioning(r=.727, P=.001) ; however, there was a negative correlation between satisfaction of family functioning and anxiety(r=-.334, P=.01). In normal families, there was no significant correlation between family functioning and anxiety. Findings of this study suggest that families with chronic illness need family-focused nursing interventions for relieving their anxiety and for improving family functioning. in conclusion, the investigation of family functioning and anxiety provides useful information in family-focused nursing care, especially for spouses of chronically ill patients. This information will contribute to developing the support systems for family caregivers and education programs for managing chronically ill patients.