Parents of children diagnosed with cancer: work situation and sick leave, a five-year post end-of-treatment or a child’s death follow-up study

Abstract

Background: Cancer in a child is associated with a significant impact on parental employment. We assessed the proportions of parents of survivors and bereaved parents working and reporting sick leave five years after end of successful treatment (ST)/child's death (T7) compared with one year after end of ST/child's death (T6) and the association between partial post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and work situation and sick leave at T7. Participants and procedure: The sample included 152 parents of survivors (77 mothers, 75 fathers) and 42 bereaved parents (22 mothers, 20 fathers) of children diagnosed with cancer in Sweden. Results: The proportions of parents working or reporting sick leave did not differ among mothers and fathers of survivors (92% vs. 96% working, 20% vs. 18% on sick leave) or among bereaved mothers and fathers (91% vs. 90% working, 14% vs. 20% on sick leave) at T7. There was no change from T6 to T7 in the proportion of fathers working (fathers of survivors 91% vs. 96%, bereaved fathers 95% vs. 90%). Although more mothers of survivors (92% vs. 82%) and bereaved mothers (91% vs. 77%) worked at T7 than at T6, this increase was not significant. Fewer bereaved mothers reported sick leave at T7 than at T6 (14% vs. 59%, p < 0.05). Although more fathers reported sick leave at T7 than at T6 (fathers of survivors 18% vs. 8%, bereaved fathers 20% vs. 15%), this was not significant. Partial PTSD was not associated with parents' work situation or sick leave at T7. Conclusion: Results suggest little adverse effect on work situation and sick leave among parents of survivors and bereaved parents five years after end of ST/child's death from cancer. However, the pattern of change observed differed between parents, which could potentially indicate possible delayed consequences for fathers not captured in the present paper.

Short‐term and long‐term effects of childhood cancer on income from employment and employment status: A national cohort study in Sweden

“…However, the long-term consequences, occurring years after diagnosis, are to our knowledge not well established, with earlier studies reporting conflicting results. 7,14,17,21 The results of the current study extend these findings, using detailed register data for more precise reporting of the effects. The current study findings demonstrate that the effects of childhood cancer on income and employment are not equally distributed among mothers and fathers.…”

“…In keeping with previous studies, the current study findings confirm that childhood cancer affects parents' employment and earnings negatively, and that the most pronounced income reductions are evident shortly after diagnosis. However, the long‐term consequences, occurring years after diagnosis, are to our knowledge not well established, with earlier studies reporting conflicting results . The results of the current study extend these findings, using detailed register data for more precise reporting of the effects.…”

The impact of childhood cancer on parents' socio‐economic situation—A systematic review

“…We identified 3359 articles through literature searches and included 35 articles, reporting on 29 individual studies (Figure ). Thirteen (37%) studies were conducted in Europe, 16 (46%) in North America/Australia, and six (17%) in Asia/Africa (Table ).…”

“…Most studies found more profound work disruptions among mothers compared with fathers. Twelve studies reported that mothers were more likely to quit work or to be unemployed after the child's diagnosis . Only one study from Indonesia showed higher work loss among fathers .…”

Impact of a child’s cancer disease on parents’ everyday life: a longitudinal study from Sweden

“…The literature, still scarce, indicates that family income decreases and expenses increase in the wake of childhood cancer [5]. In a previous study, we concluded that childhood cancer affects parents', particularly mothers', possibility to maintain working hours up to one year after completion of treatment [6], however, only minor adverse effects were found five years after end of treatment [7].…”