Date of Submission

2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert A DiTomasso, PhD, ABPP, Chair, Department of Psychology

First Advisor

Stephanie H Felgoise, PhD, ABPP, Chairperson

Second Advisor

Elizabeth A Gosch, PhD, ABPP

Third Advisor

Victoria L Vetter, MD, MPH

Abstract

Long QT syndrome is a condition that occurs as a result of a disturbance in the electrical function of the heart, and is a chronic illness that carries a high risk of sudden death. It is estimated that close to 1 in 2,000 individuals in the general population will be diagnosed with LQTS. Given the potential lethality of LQTS, and the numerous restrictions and life changes that individuals diagnosed with LQTS and their families must make, it is surprising that few studies have been conducted to evaluate psychosocial needs of people who have LQTS. Research has examined how children diagnosed with a chronic illness have impacted both family functioning and relationship satisfaction. However, there have been inconsistent findings. The variability of these findings are believed to be attributed to the severity and broad range of the illness researched, the daily demands of the illness, and the age range of the children diagnosed. The purpose of the present study is to examine whether there are differences between perceptions of relationship satisfaction and family functioning when comparing mothers of children with Long QT Syndrome with mothers who do not have a child with a chronic or life threatening physical condition or psychological condition requiring school accommodations, while controlling for variability in social problem solving skills. The study predicted that when controlling for variability in social problem solving skills, mothers with children diagnosed with Long QT syndrome will report lower relationship satisfaction when compared to the reports of mothers that do not have children diagnosed with Long QT or any chronic or life threatening physical condition or psychological condition requiring school. The study also predicted that when controlling for variability in social problem solving skills, mothers with children diagnosed with Long QT syndrome will report lower family functioning when compared to the reports of mothers that do not have children diagnosed with Long QT or any chronic or life threatening physical condition or psychological condition requiring school accommodations. Results found that there was not a significant difference when examining reports of relationship satisfaction and family functioning when comparing the LQTS group participants with the control group participants. Slight distress was indicated in the LQTS group on the satisfaction, cohesion, and total score subscale of the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale; however, it was not clinically significant. In examining family functioning both the LQTS group and Control group scored within the “healthy functioning” range on all subscales of the Family Assessment Device.

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