Parental distress, family conflict, and role of social support for caregivers with or without a child with sickle cell disease.

with SCD and comparison caregivers were found on self-reported psychological distress or family conflict. Distress in primary caregivers was related to perceived family conflict, but not to the presence of a child with SCD or to measures of social support. No evidence was found for a main effect or a buffering effect of social support. These results suggest similar psychological morbidity for caregivers of youth with SCD and healthy children, and highlight the role of family conflict.