Educational functioning of children of parents with chronic physical illness: A systematic review

Abstract

A systematic review of the literature was performed to answer the question: What are the effects of parental chronic physical illness on children’s educational functioning? Thirteen studies that met the inclusion criteria for the purpose of this review were identified, indicating the paucity of research on the topic. The results found that children and adolescents of chronically ill parents missed more school days than their peers of healthy parents and were at a higher risk for lower academic performance. Parent’s physical impairments due to chronic illness and demands of parental illness impinging on parenting and social and financial resources in the family may indirectly affect children’s educational functioning. Implications for school psychology practice and research are provided.