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Publication
Parental adjustment to a burn-injured child: how to support their needs in the aftermath of the injury
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The physical pain of a burn is immeasurable, but the pain of seeing a child suffer
is indescribable. Childhood burns not only affect the child directly, but also have
a significant impact on the parents and the rest of the family. During the acute
phase of the burn, the child’s main allies in recovery are their parents, so they face
emotional turbulence, having to support their children while witnessing the painful
procedures they go through. They often feel helpless and distressed because they
are unable to protect their children from suffering and have difficulty managing
everything they feel. In addition to the often-present feeling of guilt, they also
experience sadness and worry, particularly when returning home. After hospital
discharge, fears increase, as do the challenges. There is a need to readapt the
entire family dynamic to respond to the needs of the burned child who returns
home. This readaptation often generates stress and anxiety, interfering with the
entire family structure. It is crucial to try to understand these parents and give
them all the support they need. Only capable and well-adjusted parents can ensure
resilient family environments with safer and calmer children, thus promoting family
well-being. In this perspective paper, the authors underline the role of parents
of burnt children during the long trajectory of child rehabilitation and recovery.
By acknowledging their needs, feelings and challenges healthcare providers can
engage and support suffering parents toward more family-centered approach.
Description
*e author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. *is work was supported by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (UIDB/05704/2020 and UIDP/05704/2020) and by the Scientific Employment Stimulus-Institutional Call—[https://doi.org/10.54499/
CEECINST/00051/2018/CP1566/CT0012, Accessed on August 15, 2024].
Keywords
Burns Trauma Childhood Parenting Support Resilience Family-centered care Parental adjustment
Citation
Cioga E, Cruz D and Laranjeira C (2024) Parental adjustment to a burn-injured child: how to support their needs in the aftermath of the injury. Front. Psychol. 15:1456671. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1456671
Publisher
Frontiers in Psychology