Lewis B L, Khaw K T
J Pediatr. 1982 Oct;101(4):636-40. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(82)80729-4.
Family functioning was examined as a mediating variable affecting adjustment in children with cystic fibrosis. Three groups of children (cystic fibrosis, asthma, and healthy control subjects) were initially compared on two dimensions of adjustment: self-concept and frequency of behavior problems. The families of these children were compared according to functional level of "cohesion" and "adaptability" (assessed by an as yet unvalidated family functioning measure). No significant difference was found between the groups in family functioning or children's self-concept. The two groups of chronically ill children did have significantly higher frequencies of behavior problems than had the healthy children. When there was statistical control for effects related to family functioning, however, this difference was not significant. Family functioning was found to be a better predictor of child adjustment than was the presence of illness. These results are consistent with recent research suggesting that children with cystic fibrosis adjust in basically healthy ways and that any deficits result more from mediating factors. In this study family functioning was found to be an important mediating factor in this process.
家庭功能作为一个中介变量，被用于研究其对囊性纤维化患儿适应情况的影响。最初，对三组儿童（囊性纤维化患儿、哮喘患儿和健康对照儿童）在两个适应维度上进行了比较：自我概念和行为问题发生频率。根据“凝聚力”和“适应性”的功能水平（通过一项尚未经验证的家庭功能测量方法进行评估），对这些儿童的家庭进行了比较。在家庭功能或儿童自我概念方面，各组之间未发现显著差异。两组慢性病患儿的行为问题发生频率确实显著高于健康儿童。然而，在对与家庭功能相关的影响进行统计控制后，这种差异并不显著。研究发现，家庭功能比疾病的存在更能预测儿童的适应情况。这些结果与最近的研究一致，表明囊性纤维化患儿以基本健康的方式进行适应，任何缺陷更多是由中介因素导致的。在本研究中，家庭功能被发现是这一过程中的一个重要中介因素。
