The role of childhood illness in shaping relationships through to young adulthood

Abstract

Objective: To explore how those with a physical illness in childhood are managing in relationships across childhood to young adulthood. Methods: On transition to primary school parents were asked about their child’s physical health (n = 1895). Childhood health problems were classified using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) framework. Relational health was assessed using parent and self-reported measures. Results: A total of 1347 parents reported their child had any physical illness between 5-8 years of age, with 143 reporting their child had been so ill they thought they might die. Having a childhood illness was associated with lower Self-control and Cooperation in both late childhood (|β|..