Publication Date
4-2025
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Abstract
Background: Previous research has shown that parental guilt is a risk factor for poor parental adjustment (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress) following a pediatric burn injury (Hawkins et al., 2019). However, few studies have examined risk factors for parental guilt. Objectives/Goal: The current study aimed to examine relationships among demographic variables, burn characteristics, maternal mental health, with maternal guilt following their child’s burn injury. Methods/Design: Mothers of 147 children who experienced a burn injury (mean child age = 6.28 years, 46% female, 44.7% White, 19.2% Black or African American, 9.6% Hispanic, 1.3% Asian, 11.9% multiracial, total body surface area range .10 – 15%) were screened using questionnaires assessing parent posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and guilt during their children’s outpatient burn clinic visit. Clinical and demographic variables were retrieved retrospectively from patients’ medical charts. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were conducted. Several demographic factors (e.g., child’s sex, race, insurance type) and burn injury characteristics (e.g., length of hospital stay, burn injury mechanism) were found to be nonsignificant in bivariate correlational and regression analyses and therefore were excluded in final analyses. Results: Maternal depressive symptoms (β = .23, p = .04) and posttraumatic stress related to their child’s burn injuries (β = .49, p = < .001) significantly predicted maternal guilt. Mothers of younger children were observed to experience higher levels of guilt (β = -.15, p = .03). Lastly, burn size (β = -.11, p = .14) and maternal anxiety (β = .00, p = .99) were not significant predictors of maternal guilt. Conclusions: Following a burn injury, maternal posttraumatic stress, depressive symptoms, and child age contribute to maternal guilt related to the injury regardless of burn size. Findings support integration of routine screening of caregivers’ guilt and mental health following pediatric burn injuries, regardless of burn size, to inform appropriate interventions.
Disciplines
Pediatrics
Recommended Citation
Ung, Sabrina; Dugan, Abby; Lawless, Casey; Netz, Mallory; Bernstein, Alec; and Parrish, Carisa, "Maternal Guilt Following Pediatric Burn Injury" (2025). Posters. 447.
https://scholarlyexchange.childrensmercy.org/posters/447
Notes
Presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference; Phoenix, AZ; April 3-5, 2025.