vi. Impact statement
Reduced caregiver QoL may negatively impact their ability to care for a
child with atopic dermatitis. This is the first study to examine the
role of illness beliefs and self-efficacy in the QoL of a population of
caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis. Our results suggest that
a caregiver’s view of the consequences of their child’s atopic
dermatitis and their emotional response has a greater effect on their
QoL than the objective severity of the child’s condition. Whilst
self-efficacy mediates between most illness perceptions and QoL, it does
not between emotional representations and QoL. Therefore, clinicians and
intervention designers should consider taking into account and/or
addressing caregiver illness beliefs and self-efficacy in order to
support parents.