Which family will most likely have the greatest difficulty in coping with an ill child?

a.
A single-parent mother who has the support of her parents and siblings
b.
Parents who have just moved to the area and are living in an apartment while they look for a house
c.
The family of a child who has had multiple hospitalizations related to asthma and has adequate relationships with the nursing staff
d.
A family in which there is a young child and four older married children who live in the area

ANS: B

Parents who are in a new environment will have increased stress related to their lack of a support system. If only one parent is available but has the support of her extended family, this will assist in her adjustment to the crisis. The family that has had positive experiences in the past with hospitalizations can draw from those experiences and feel confident about the current setting. For the family with one younger child and four older married children who live in the area, the family has an extensive support system, which will assist the parents in adjusting to the crisis.