Fathers' coping mechanisms related to parenting a chronically ill child: implications for advanced practice nurses.

Introduction: The presence of a father has been positively associated with outcomes in several aspects of a child's life. This descriptive study investigated coping methods used by fathers of chronically ill children, fathers' perceived severity of the child's illness, and demographic differences related to coping mechanisms.

Method: A sample of 54 fathers of chronically ill children completed measurements of demographics, coping processes, and severity levels of their child's chronic condition.