Health behaviors and psychological burden of adolescents after parental cancer diagnosis

Abstract

This study aims to investigate health behaviors and psychological burdens in adolescent children of cancer parents. We compared health behaviors and mental health outcomes between 266 adolescent children with a parent diagnosed with cancer and 3163 control adolescents aged 12–19 years using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2010 to 2018. Alcohol use of adolescents increased between 2 and 5 years after parental cancer diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.94) but decreased after 5 years. Parental cancer was associated with increased vaccination uptake in adolescents within 1 year of diagnosis (aOR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.55–6.54), but after 2 years, there was no difference from rates in their peers. Maternal cancer was associated with increased depression among adolescents (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.10 − 2.73). Although the risks of suicidal thoughts/plans/attempts increased within 1 year after parental cancer diagnosis (aOR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.00 − 8.83), it reduced 2 years after diagnosis, leading to no significant difference from the frequency in peers. Within five years after the parent was diagnosed with cancer, support for their adolescent children's health behaviors and mental health is necessary in the community.

Association of parental depression with adolescent children’s psychological well-being and health behaviors

“…Participants’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics — such as age, sex, education level, household income and family type — were obtained from the KNHANES surveys conducted between 2013 and 2021 [ 26 , 30 , 31 ] (Table 1 ). We selected participants’ weight for their age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and physical activity levels as health behavior factors for adolescents’s variables (Table 2 ).…”

The impact of Parental Depression on Adolescent Children's Psychological Well- being and Health Behaviors

“…Participants' baseline characteristics -such as age, sex, education level, household income, and residential area -were obtained from the KNHANES surveys conducted between 2013 and 2021 [14,18,19]. Participants' weight for their age was classi ed into three groups (< 5th, 5th -95th, and ≥ 95th percentile) according to the Korean National Growth Chart in 2017.…”

“…From this initial group, 250 adolescents were excluded because their parents did not respond to questionnaires regarding depression. Considering that chronic and severe parental illnesses can affect family dynamics and children's health [13][14][15][16][17], we excluded 350 participants whose parents had a history of cardiovascular disease, renal failure, cirrhosis, or cancer. The nal sample consisted of 4,059 adolescents (Fig.…”

Cancer and the family: Variations by sex and race/ethnicity

“…There is growing recognition that adolescents wish for greater information about their parent's cancer and increased peer support 12 . Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to negative consequences associated with a parent's illness including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation 13 . Currently, in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the focus is individually focused to the extent that few data are currently available to understand the family and living arrangements of individuals with cancer.…”

“… 12 Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable to negative consequences associated with a parent's illness including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. 13 Currently, in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the focus is individually focused to the extent that few data are currently available to understand the family and living arrangements of individuals with cancer. This is important because family can serve both as a source of support, encouraging adherence, such as through direct support, instrumental support, financial contributions, and indirectly such as assisting with childcare responsibilities.…”