Fathers' psychological responses to pediatric cancer–induced financial distress (original) (raw)
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Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 2019
BackgroundPediatric cancer–induced financial burden is source of stress for parents, particularly mothers, single parents, and parents with lower incomes. This financial burden has been linked to poorer family quality of life (QOL) in terms of new onset material hardships, and could also affect individual QOL in terms of parents’ stress‐related symptoms. Our purpose was to describe pediatric cancer–induced financial burden among parents of children with that diagnosis, its effects on their stress‐related symptoms (distress, anxiety, cognition impairment, sleep impairment), and associations between select risk factors (relationship to the child, marital status, income) and the extent that financial burden affected parents’ symptoms.ProcedureWe recruited via two parent‐led groups and collected data using an online survey. We calculated frequencies of demographic characteristics, financial burden, and symptoms. We used chi‐square statistics to examine bivariate associations between the...
Fathers of Children with Cancer: Involvement, Coping, and Adjustment
Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 2008
Introduction: This study examined the role of fathers caring for children with cancer. Psychological adjustment, coping, and work patterns of mothers and fathers were described. Method: Twenty fathers of children with cancer were compared with 20 mothers of children with cancer and 20 control fathers of healthy children. Questionnaire data were collected regarding coping, parental adjustment, child adjustment, and family involvement. Results: Fathers did not differ from mothers or control fathers in terms of psychological adjustment or coping. However, fathers of children with cancer spent more hours at work and more hours caring for children than did control fathers. Paternal adjustment was significantly related to child adjustment only when the child had cancer.
Fathers of Children With Cancer: A Descriptive Synthesis of the Literature
Social Work in Health Care, 2010
This article reviews and synthesizes research studies on fathers of children diagnosed with cancer in order to identify the stressors resulting from their child's diagnosis. A systematic search of the literature between 1980 and 2007 generated 53 eligible studies that specifically identified issues relevant to fathers of children with cancer. Fathers experience unique stressors that may be related to gender-related roles. These stressors need specific focus and clinical attention from social workers. Review findings indicate the unique role gender plays in coping with childhood cancer, the importance of involving fathers in childhood cancer research, and in structuring psychosocial support addressing their specific concerns.
Assessment of Psychological Distress among Parents of Children with Cancer
Open Journal of Psychiatry, 2021
Background and Aims: The diagnosis of pediatric cancer is a potentially traumatic event and a major source of psychological distress for parents. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and the risk factors of psychological distress among parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Methods: This is a descriptive study carried out on parents of children diagnosed with cancer and treated in the department of medical oncology at the Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Tunisia. Over a period of four months, from the beginning of December 2020 until the end of March 2021, forty-three parents (34 mothers and 9 fathers) were assessed, using psychometric scales of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress according to respectively to the Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R). Results: Sixteen percent of the parents had scores indicating acute stress and 21% had scores indicating post-traumatic stress. Eighty six percent of the parents had mild to severe depression and 95% had minor to major anxiety. Post-traumatic stress and anxiety are significantly correlated with the female sex of parents. Significant correlations are also found between post-traumatic stress scores and symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, our study did not show a significant correlation between the others factors studied and the parents' psychological distress. Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders was high among parents of children diagnosed with cancer and a significant correlation was found between stress and anxiety with the female sex of parents. Our results were similar to several studies although other risk factors for psychological distress in parents of children with cancer were described in the literature.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2005
Objective To explore the effects of social support on psychological distress of parents of pediatric cancer patients using a prospective design over a 5-year period. Methods Parents of children diagnosed with cancer participated at diagnosis (T1), 6 months (T2), 12 months (T3), and 5 years later (T4). Instruments The General Health Questionnaire and the Social Support List (SSL) measuring amount of support, (dis)satisfaction with support, and negative interactions were administered. Results Psychological distress and amount of support received decreased significantly from diagnosis to T4. No significant change in (dis)satisfaction with support and negative interactions was found. Social support variables did not show any concurrent or prospective significant effect on mothers' distress at T4. Dissatisfaction with support showed a significant unique concurrent effect on fathers' distress at T4 and negative interactions had a prospective unique effect. Conclusions Dissatisfaction with support and negative interactions that fathers experienced significantly affected their levels of psychological distress. No such effect was found for mothers.
Psychological Distress and Associated Factors in Parents of Children with Cancer
International journal of social science and humanity, 2011
Introduction: Diagnosis of cancer in children poses a challenging situation for parents to cope with. Method: Seventy-nine (N = 79) parents whose children are receiving treatment for cancer in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. They completed a set questionnaire measuring their level of anxiety and stress, knowledge about cancer, and amount of activities they perform with or for the child to enhance the child's coping abilities, in addition to children's psychological problems. Socio-demographic information was obtained. Results: Parents with higher cancer knowledge reported reduced stress (p<0.01) and anxiety (p<0.05). The higher the income (p<0.05) and education (p<0.01), the higher cancer knowledge. Parental stress was negatively correlated with income (p<0.05) and education (p<0.01), indicating that the better educated and higher the salary, less stress symptoms. Highly educated parents engaged in more activities with their children (p<0.05). Parental anxiety was correlated significantly with children's current treatment including chemotherapy procedure (p<0.01), 'In-patient' Vs 'Outpatient' (p<0.01), and children's condition (p<0.01). Parents of hospitalized children who underwent chemotherapy were significantly more anxious than their counterparts. Parents who perceived their children's current condition as 'very good', reported reduced anxiety, compared to those who reported their child's condition as 'ok'. The more psychological problems the children had, the higher parental anxiety (p<0.05) and stress symptoms (p<0.01). Discussion: Some groups of parents reported more psychological difficulties compared to others. Ongoing psychological assessment and intervention may reduce parental stress by increasing coping and reducing children psychological problems.
Factors Related to Parental Well Being in Children with Cancer
ipedr.net
Introduction: Parents of children with cancer experience a challenging situation in coping with the child's diagnosis and changes that the illness puts in the overall family condition. Method: A cross-sectional study on 79 parents was conducted in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Sociodemographic information was obtained. Participants completed a set questionnaire measuring their level of anxiety and stress, knowledge about cancer, and amount of activities they perform with or for the child to enhance the child's coping abilities. Children's psychological problems were also assessed through parental reports. Results: Parents with higher cancer knowledge reported reduced stress (p<0.01) and anxiety (p<0.05). The higher the income (p<0.05) and education (p<0.01), the higher cancer knowledge. Parental stress was negatively correlated with income (p<0.05) and education (p<0.01), indicating that the better educated and higher the salary, less stress symptoms. Highly educated parents engaged in more activities with their children (p<0.05).Parental anxiety was correlated significantly with children's current treatment including chemotherapy procedure (p<0.01), 'In-patient' Vs 'Outpatient' (p<0.01), and children's condition (p<0.01). Parents of hospitalized children who underwent chemotherapy were significantly more anxious than their counterparts. Parents who perceived their children's current condition as 'very good', reported reduced anxiety, compared to those who reported their child's condition as 'ok'. The more psychological problems the children had, the higher parental anxiety (p<0.05) and stress symptoms (p<0.01). Discussion: Some groups of parents had more psychological difficulties compared to others. Ongoing psychological assessment and intervention may reduce parental stress by increasing coping and reducing children psychological problems.
Health Psychology, 2012
To investigate levels and correlates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in mothers and fathers of children and youth with cancer. Methods: Mothers (n ϭ 191) and fathers (n ϭ 95), representing 195 families of children and youth with cancer, completed measures of PTSS (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory) between 2 and 22 weeks after their child's cancer diagnosis or recurrence of initial diagnosis. Results: Substantial subgroups of mothers (41%) and fathers (30%) reported levels of PTSS that exceeded cutoffs for elevated symptoms, and these subgroups of parents were characterized by heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety. Fathers of children and youth treated for relapse reported higher rates of elevated PTSS than fathers of children and youth treated for first-time diagnosis, but mothers' rates were similar. Mothers and fathers reported comparable mean levels of PTSS that were strongly positively correlated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. PTSS and other symptoms of distress were negatively related to education level for fathers. Conclusion: These findings provide additional evidence that mothers and fathers experience substantial PTSS near the time of their child or adolescent's cancer diagnosis during the first 6 months of treatment. Results suggest that PTSS may be part of a broader pattern of emotional distress and that a substantial portion of both mothers and fathers of children and youth with cancer may be in need of supportive mental health services within the first 6 months of their child's diagnosis.
Measuring psychosocial distress and parenting concerns among adults with cancer
Cancer, 2012
PURPOSE-We conducted a two phase, mixed methods study to develop a Parenting Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ) for adults with cancer. Limited information about this area of psychosocial distress highlights the need for a measurement tool that can identify adult oncology patients with heightened parenting concerns who could benefit from additional intervention. PATIENTS AND METHODS-Telephone focus groups were conducted with 16 oncology patients who had children 18 years old and younger. Group interview transcripts were analyzed to generate qualitative themes and candidate items for the PCQ. A 38-item version of the questionnaire was completed by 173 oncology outpatients with children 18 years old and under. Participants also completed the Distress Thermometer, HADS, and FACT-G. Exploratory factor analyses revealed the emergence of 3 subscales of 5 items each, yielding a 15 item questionnaire. Associations between total PCQ scores, standardized measures of distress, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and demographic and illness characteristics were examined. RESULTS-The 15 item PCQ demonstrates good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .83). PCQ scores were significantly associated (p<.01) with standardized measures of psychosocial distress (Distress Thermometer, HADS, and FACT-G) in the expected directions. Higher PCQ scores were associated with female gender, single parenthood, metastatic or recurrent cancer, subjective understanding of incurable disease, co-morbid chronic health condition, and current mental health treatment. CONCLUSIONS-The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire proved a reliable and valid measure of parenting distress among cancer patients meriting further study.