Parental multiple sclerosis, changes in family routine and mental health of young children

Introduction: Parental illness generates changes in family dynamics and in the mental health of all family members. Children of parents with chronic illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis face unique challenges, as they are forced to adapt to a new reality where parental illness limits the care and attention capabilities towards them.
Methods: a systematic literature review was conducted using the PsycInfo, Scopus and Medline databases, with the equation "multiple sclerosis"; AND "family"; AND "parents"; AND "child parent relations", conducted in September 2022.
Results: n = 26 studies were included. Children of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) present more adjustment problems, anxiety disorders and behavioral disturbances than controls. This distress is associated with factors such as parental physical and psychological comorbidity and changes within family roles. The level of risk varies in relation to factors such as support network, sex of the ill parent, time of exposure to the disease and the role of the healthy parent. Lack of access to information and support turns out to be a common complaint of young children. Conclusions: Most of the children living with parental illness present experiences alterations in their mental health and show a higher prevalence of psychological distress; however, this does not occur in all cases. The most predominant protective factors seem to be: parental adherence to treatment, and, above all, access to effective information in accordance with the level of understanding of the different populations involved.