Psychosocial functioning in children with a congenital heart disease: attachment and emotion regulation strategies of children and parents as explanatory factors.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Children born with congenital heart disease (CHD) face increased risk of psychosocial difficulties. These may stem from challenges in parent-child relationships and related emotion regulation (ER) processes. This study examined whether insecure attachment and maladaptive parental emotion regulation strategies (ERS) are associated with psychological functioning in children with CHD. We also investigated whether these effects are associated through pathways involving children's own ER.

Methods

In a sample of 218 families, with children between the ages 8 and 18 and their parents, participants completed questionnaires on attachment [Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised Child (ECR-RC)], emotion regulation [Fragebogen zur erhebung der emotions regulation

SUBMITTER: Mels S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12754529 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature