The association between parenting a child with a chronic disease and mental disorders: a case-control study

Parenting a child with a chronic disease presents significant emotional and psychological challenges, potentially impacting the mental well-being of family members. However, the extent of this burden may vary by disease type. This study explored the association between caregiving for children with chronic illnesses—specifically Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)—and mental health outcomes in Saudi Arabia. This case-control study involved 38 caregivers of children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), 31 caregivers of children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), and 34 caregivers of healthy children (control group). Structured telephone interviews were conducted using validated scales, including the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety. Data comparisons between groups were performed using Pearson chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Caregivers of children with SCD exhibited higher rates of moderate-to-severe anxiety (35.5%) and depression (12.9%) compared to caregivers of children with T1D (10.6% and 5.2%, respectively) and the control group. Caregivers of children with SCD also reported greater socio-economic challenges and more frequent child hospitalizations than T1D caregivers. Parenting a child with a severe chronic illness, particularly SCD, is associated with a higher prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression in this sample. The heightened burden may reflect disease severity and socioeconomic disparities. Screening for mental health challenges among these caregivers may be warranted to improve family well-being.