Emotionally Healthy Conversations
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Department
Communication
Abstract
Eczema is a condition that causes inflamed and itchy skin. It is a form of atopic disease, usually associated with allergies (food and environmental) and asthma. In recent years, there have been an increase in atopic diseases among children, thus, it is vital for us not only to understand how does eczema affect a child’s physical needs, but emotional as well. This research study looks into the communication patterns between a mother and her child who is suffering from severe eczema. Our research has showed while eczema has made the mothers focus more on the physical caregiving portion of interaction with their child, less and much needed attention needs to be placed on the emotional communication of the children. As the mothers build on stress themselves and other negative emotions, those emotions are transferable to their children who are already in physical pain. There needs to be a parenting program to help teach parents to reduce the burden of having an illness within the family.
Parents need to be informed on how to develop emotionally healthy children when their children are physically sick. There are plenty of risks involved, and we need to train parents in this context to alleviate those risks. Emotional withdrawal is a known risk for families in this situation, and communication can help facilitate that. Poor communication can heighten those risks, so we aim to educate parents on how to appropriately and effectively develop healthy, young minds. A research question we explored in this study asked what, if any, is the relationship between parent-child conflict and the topic, avoidance or acceptance, of eczema.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Lauren Amaro
Funding Source or Research Program
Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Presentation Session
Session B
Location
Plaza Classroom 189
Start Date
1-4-2016 5:00 PM
End Date
1-4-2016 5:15 PM
Emotionally Healthy Conversations
Plaza Classroom 189
Eczema is a condition that causes inflamed and itchy skin. It is a form of atopic disease, usually associated with allergies (food and environmental) and asthma. In recent years, there have been an increase in atopic diseases among children, thus, it is vital for us not only to understand how does eczema affect a child’s physical needs, but emotional as well. This research study looks into the communication patterns between a mother and her child who is suffering from severe eczema. Our research has showed while eczema has made the mothers focus more on the physical caregiving portion of interaction with their child, less and much needed attention needs to be placed on the emotional communication of the children. As the mothers build on stress themselves and other negative emotions, those emotions are transferable to their children who are already in physical pain. There needs to be a parenting program to help teach parents to reduce the burden of having an illness within the family.
Parents need to be informed on how to develop emotionally healthy children when their children are physically sick. There are plenty of risks involved, and we need to train parents in this context to alleviate those risks. Emotional withdrawal is a known risk for families in this situation, and communication can help facilitate that. Poor communication can heighten those risks, so we aim to educate parents on how to appropriately and effectively develop healthy, young minds. A research question we explored in this study asked what, if any, is the relationship between parent-child conflict and the topic, avoidance or acceptance, of eczema.