This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Stickler, G. B. Articles by Alario, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stickler, G. B. Articles by Alario, A. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Parents' Worries About Children Compared to Actual Risks

Emeritus member, Department of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota

Margery Salter, Ph.D.

Dr. Margery Salter is in private practice in Warwick, Rhode Island

Daniel D. Broughton, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

Anthony Alario, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

To investigate the concerns of parents, questionnaires were given to the "first 100" parents waiting for their child's pediatric appointment in four different medical settings. They were asked to rate whether they worry "frequently," "occasionally," or "not at all" about 17 physical health issues, 16 psychosocial problems, 7 possible injuries, 4 instances of victimization, and 4 questions about parents' ability to provide discipline, affection, values and financial support. The response rate was 94% ; 89% were completed adequately for analysis. Parental concerns were compared to data from the National Center for Health Statistics about the statistical likelihood of the risks occurring. Ear infections (65%) were the most common health concern, followed by reaction to immunization (57%), common colds (51%), and cancer (50%). The greatest psychosocial concern was about children watching too much television (53%), followed by concerns about the quality of day care (50%). Three-quarters of parents worry about car accidents and 72% worry about abduction of their children. Parents worry significantly about their own contribution to their child's welfare: appropriate discipline (73%), affection (56%), values and being a role model (55%), and financial support (66%). Parents who had not completed high school worried more than parents who had more than a high school education (P < 0.03).

Clinical Pediatrics, Vol. 30, No. 9, 522-528 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/000992289103000901


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Pratt, N. Botting, and G. Conti-Ramsden The characteristics and concerns of mothers of adolescents with a history of SLI Child Language Teaching and Therapy, June 1, 2006; 22(2): 177 - 196. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Burklow, L. M. Vaughn, K. S. Valerius, and J. R. Schultz Parental Expectations Regarding Discussions on Psychosocial Topics During Pediatric Office Visits Clinical Pediatrics, October 1, 2001; 40(10): 555 - 562. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. B. Stickler Worries of Parents and Their Children Clinical Pediatrics, February 1, 1996; 35(2): 84 - 90. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. B. Stickler and P. S. Simmons Pediatricians' Preferences for Anticipatory Guidance Topics Compared with Parental Anxieties Clinical Pediatrics, July 1, 1995; 34(7): 384 - 387. [PDF]

				G. B. Stickler and M. Salter Have Parents Lost Control of their Children? Clinical Pediatrics, April 1, 1994; 33(4): 249 - 251. [PDF]