Family functioning as a mediating variable affecting psychosocial adjustment of children with cystic fibrosis.

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.