The nurse is assessing the coping behaviors of the parents whose child has been recently diagnosed with a chronic illness. What reaction by the parents is a positive step in the ability to cope with this new situation?

• A. Refusing to believe the child is ill.
• B. Entertaining an unrealistic future plan for the child.
• C. Placing complete faith in religion to the point of relinquishing own responsibility.
• D. Endowing the illness with meaning.

Answer: (D)

When families face a child’s chronic illness, finding a meaning or purpose in the situation helps them move from shock toward active coping. Endowing the illness with meaning gives parents a framework for understanding why this happens, what they can do, and how they will support their child over time. This meaning-making supports practical caregiving actions, adherence to treatment plans, and planning for the future, because the illness is integrated into the family’s life rather than treated as an overwhelming anomaly. Denial delays adjustment, an unrealistic future plan looks like avoidance or fantasy that can crash when reality sets in, and relying entirely on religion to the point of relinquishing responsibility reduces engagement with the concrete tasks of care. By contrast, giving the illness meaning fosters resilience, a sense of control, and constructive steps the family can take together.