Parents of Children With Cancer: At-Risk or Resilient?

Phipps, Sean; Long, Alanna; Willard, Victoria W.; Okado, Yuko; Hudson, Melissa; Huang, Qiuqiong; Zhang, Hui; Noll, Robert B.

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv047

Cited by 67 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 63 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…Differences in time since diagnosis may also explain discrepancies in caregivers’ distress and subsequently reduced PTSS symptoms in children. Nevertheless, this finding is consistent with previous research with caregivers of older children that included a comparison group . Finally, it is possible that differences may be attributed to the slightly younger sample of participants included in the Graf et al study, though our findings do not seem to support age as an indicator of PTSS.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Posttraumatic stress in young children with cancer: Risk factors and comparison with healthy peers

Tillery

Willard

Long

et al. 2019

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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Objective The most commonly occurring childhood cancers are diagnosed during the preschool years; yet limited psycho‐oncology research has focused on this developmental time period. The primary objective was to examine rates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in young children with cancer and compare these findings with those of children without a history of serious illness (comparisons). The secondary aim was to examine risk and modifiable factors associated with PTSS. Method Ninety‐seven caregivers of patients (n = 50) and comparisons (n = 47) aged three to six years completed diagnostic interviews for the assessment of PTSD. They also completed a survey measure of PTSS adapted from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL‐PTSD), along with measures of their child's temperament and their own current psychological functioning. Results On the CBCL‐PTSD, no differences in PTSS were observed between children with cancer and comparisons, although many in both groups appeared at risk, with approximately 34% of children with cancer and 27% of comparisons meeting threshold scores for probable PTSD. However, using a “gold‐standard” clinical‐interview assessment, only three children in the patient group and no children in the comparison group met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Parental distress and child temperament were significantly associated with PTSS scores. Conclusion Findings indicate PTSD is relatively infrequent in children with cancer, and survey measures may overestimate rates of PTSD in young children. However, other emotional or behavioral issues may be present. Ultimately, screening for potential emotional/behavioral concerns in young children with cancer is indicated, and interventions should continue to target caregiver distress.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Posttraumatic stress in young children with cancer: Risk factors and comparison with healthy peers

Tillery

Willard

Long

et al. 2019

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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“…Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer among children younger than 15 years of age . Modern treatments have increased the overall 5‐year survival rates to over 85%; most survivors, parents, and families adapt well to this traumatic event, indicating psychological competent state and resilience . However, some survivors are still vulnerable to significant late effects, which can disrupt family functioning as family members must adjust their daily routines to cope with the child's acute and late effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Child symptoms, parent behaviors, and family strain in long‐term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

et al. 2018

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“…Alternatively, it may be that our parents are truly resilient and did not experience elevated stress as related to their child's diagnosis, but rather were able to cope adequately. Indeed, research with parents of children with cancer has frequently highlighted the resilience and growth exhibited by parents during and after the cancer experience . Future research efforts should focus on better capturing the illness‐related stressors of parents of young children with cancer, both with and without retinoblastoma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal investigation of parenting stress in caregivers of children with retinoblastoma

Willard

Qaddoumi

Zhang

et al. 2016

Pediatr Blood Cancer

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Background Retinoblastoma is typically diagnosed in young children and may present unique parenting challenges. Qualitative research suggests that parents experience distress related to the initial diagnosis and treatment that subsequently resolves. The objectives were to systematically assess parenting stress over time in parents of young children with retinoblastoma and to examine associations between parenting stress and child outcomes. Procedures Parents of children with retinoblastoma completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) during serial psychological assessments scheduled based on the child’s age (age 6 months to 5 years). Caregivers of 92 patients (85.9% mothers) completed the assessments. Child outcomes included developmental functioning and parent-reported adaptive functioning. Results At baseline and age 5, all subscales on the PSI were within normal limits, and most were significantly below normative means (i.e., demonstrating low levels of stress). All domains remained relatively stable over time. Associations between parenting stress and child outcomes were much stronger at age 5 than at baseline. Child-directed parenting stress was a small but significant contributor to declines in child functioning over time. Conclusions Parents of children with retinoblastoma report normal levels of parenting stress while their children are young. However, baseline parenting stress appears to contribute to changes in child functioning over time. Future studies should assess illness-related aspects of adjustment to further understand the parenting experience of young children with cancer and/or having a visually-impaired child.

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Parents of Children With Cancer: At-Risk or Resilient?

Abstract: Parents of children with cancer demonstrate resilience to this challenge.

Cited by 67 publications

References 63 publications

Posttraumatic stress in young children with cancer: Risk factors and comparison with healthy peers

Posttraumatic stress in young children with cancer: Risk factors and comparison with healthy peers

Child symptoms, parent behaviors, and family strain in long‐term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A longitudinal investigation of parenting stress in caregivers of children with retinoblastoma

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