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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1:

Arabiat, D. H., Al Jabery, M., & Wardam, L. (2012). Screening for anxiety symptoms and social desirability in children and adolescents living with chronic illnesses in Jordan. Journal of Child Health Care, 1367493512450623.

Abstract:

This research aims to investigate the rate and nature of anxiety symptoms in a group of children and adolescents living with chronic illnesses in Jordan, and their relation to social desirability in a cultural sample not previously researched. Using the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (R-CMAS), anxiety and social desirability data were obtained from 114 children diagnosed with chronic illnesses and 162 healthy control participants. Based on children’s self-report, participants were categorized according to their adaptive style paradigm as either high anxious, low anxious, or repressor. It was proposed that children who score high on social desirability and low on anxiety are repressors. The prevalence of these categories was compared across the two groups. Anxiety was reported in 9.64 percent of the chronic illnesses and 12.34 percent of the healthy peers. Using the data obtained in the present study, the rate and nature of anxiety in children with chronic illnesses were lower for children in Jordan when compared to previous studies. However, social desirability values were similar to those established in Western societies suggesting a significantly higher percentage of children identified as repressors in children with long-term illnesses. These results supported the hypothesis regarding the relationship between social desirability and expressed anxiety symptoms.

Questions to Consider:

1. Describe your understanding of the term "repressor" and how that may affect mental health and overall wellness for persons labeled as such.
2. Discuss your perception of the findings regarding lower anxiety in the chronically ill sub-sample of this study.
3. How may support groups be of benefit for children and families of children with chronic illness?

Article 2:

Christie, D., Romano, G., Barnes, J., Madge, N., Nicholas, D. B., Koot, H. M., & Sutcliffe, A. (2011). Exploring views on satisfaction with life in young children with chronic illness: An innovative approach to the collection of self-report data from children under 11. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 1359104510392309.

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to explore young children’s views on the impact of chronic illness on their life in order to inform future development of a patient-based self-report health outcome measure. We describe an approach to facilitating self-report views from young children with chronic illness. A board game was designed in order to obtain qualitative data from 39 children with a range of chronic illness conditions and 38 healthy controls ranging in age from 3 to 11 years. The format was effective in engaging young children in a self-report process of determining satisfaction with life and identified nine domains. The board game enabled children aged 5–11 years with chronic illness to describe the effects of living with illness on home, family, friends, school and life in general. It generated direct, non-interpreted material from children who, because of their age, may have been considered unable or limited their ability to discuss and describe how they feel. Obtaining this information for children aged 4 and under continues to be a challenge.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are major challenges and benefits of collecting and utilizing self-report data from children?
2. Which of the nine themes mentioned do you find most interesting or pertinent to your work as a counselor?
3. Describe any changes you would make to the methodology of this intervention to elicit more or different responses from children with chronic illness.