chronic renal failure

parental relationship

self-care

The objective of this study was to describe aspects of the parental relationship and related factors in adolescents with chronic renal failure. Subjects were seven mothers of adolescents with chronic renal failure (predialysis or peritoneal dialysis). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire regarding the parental relationship with the adolescent and were qualitatively analyzed. The following aspects of parental relationships were identified: 1. The parental relationship to adolescents with chronic renal failure vacillated between "relationships thatvalue and are responsive to the adolescent's self-care", "expectation and encouragement of adolescent self-care" and "tendency to ignore the adolescent's self-care to protect the adolescent's health and prevent loss of renal function", as the parents made respond to "efforts to alleviate the adolescent's emotional pain resulting from the diagnosis of chronic renal failure". Parental relationships were influenced by "acceptance of the adolescent's illness and treatment", "recognition of the adolescent's reaction to illness and treatment and their emotional reactions to these factors", "recognition of loss of renal function" and "prediction of the adolescent's condition, treatment, and chance of kidney transplantation in the future. 2. Aspects of parental relationships were also influenced by "the adolescent's condition and chronic kidney disease stage" and "developmental stage". In addition, as the adolescent's condition and disease stage deteriorated, "a controlling relationship caused by anxiety about the deterioration in the adolescent's condition" and "inability to support the adolescent or failure to respond to questions causing a confused relationship with the adolescent" developed. These findings suggest the need to assess and support the various and dynamic parental relationships with adolescents with chronic renal failure.