Symptoms of posttraumatic stress among parents struggling with their child’s cancer – the role of negative cognitions and disruption in core beliefs

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed at establishing the relationship between posttraumatic cognitions resulting from traumatic experiences as well as disruption in core beliefs and the level of symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSD). Another aim was to check whether the disruption of core beliefs is a mediator between posttraumatic cognitions and symptoms of PTSD. Methods: Results obtained from 57 parents aged 25-57 years (M = 35.38; SD = 8.32), who have dealt with their child's cancer (men -47.4%; women -52.6%) were examined. Three measuring methods were used in the study: the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) and the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI). Results:The results showed positive associations between posttraumatic cognitions as well as disruption of core beliefs and the severity of PTSD. Challenges for core beliefs act as mediators in the relationship between posttraumatic cognitions and symptoms of PTSD. Conclusions: The experience of a traumatic event usually entails the occurrence of posttraumatic stress symptoms. The severity of these symptoms is determined by, among others, the individual's beliefs about the world and about themselves. The experience of a child's cancer is a traumatic experience for parents. Negative cognitions and disruption in key beliefs favour the persistence of PTSD symptoms. Disturbances in beliefs are mediators in the relationship between negative cognitions and symptoms of PTSD. Reducing symptoms of PTSD, and thus recovery, requires a change in beliefs that are distorted by trauma. Key words: posttraumatic stress symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions, disruption of core beliefs, child's cancer. StreszczenieCel: Podjęte badania miały na celu ustalenie związku między pourazowymi treściami poznawczymi, wynikającymi z doświadczenia sytuacji traumatycznej i zakłóceniami w kluczowych przekonaniach, a poziomem objawów stresu potraumatycznego (posttraumatic stress disorder -PTSD) oraz sprawdzenie, czy zakłócenia w kluczowych przekonaniach pośredniczą w relacji między pourazowymi treściami poznawczymi a objawami PTSD.

Trajectories of parental posttraumatic stress disorder and children's mental health following Super Typhoon Lekima: The mediating role of feeling of safety

“…A 95% confidence interval (CI) for an indirect path coefficient that does not include 0 suggests the indirect path is significant. Socha, 2017). In this situation, the children's perception of the severity of trauma is more likely to increase, while the risk of depression in these children may not be as pronounced as that of PTSD, which is consistent with previous research (Domino et al, 2020;Zalta et al, 2014).…”

The importance of core beliefs in the process of posttraumatic adaptation – the Polish adaptation of the Core Beliefs Inventory

“…It seems justified to carry out the study which covers beliefs associated with a negative life event and treats them as intervening variables which refer to cause-effect relationships. The Polish study demonstrated the intervening role of disruptions of beliefs in the relationship between negative cognitions and PTSD symptoms in the group of parents who experienced cancer of their child [24]. The obtained empirical data do not represent a wide spectrum of critical life events.…”

“…Zasadne wydają się badania ujmujące przekonania związane z negatywnym zdarzeniem życiowym, jako zmienne mediujące, odnoszące się do mechanizmów przyczynowo-skutkowych. W polskich badaniach wykazano mediacyjną rolę zakłóceń w posiadanych przekonaniach w relacji między negatywnymi treściami poznawczymi a objawami PTSD w grupie rodziców zmagających się z chorobą nowotworową dziecka [24]. Uzyskane dane empiryczne nie reprezentują szerokiego spektrum krytycznych zdarzeń życiowych.…”

Type D personality and post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescents – the mediating role of resilience

“…On the other, according to cognitive-behavioral approach, dysfunctional beliefs are treated as a mechanism behind PTSD [45]. Positive links between negative beliefs about the world and one's own person with PTSD have been demonstrated in parents of oncologically ill children, among others [46]. It is also worth mentioning in this context that type D personality dimensions are linked with less effective coping and lesser need for social support, which may intensify PTSD symptoms.…”

“…Dodatnie powiązania negatywnych przekonań na temat świata i własnej osoby z występowaniem PTSD wykazano m.in. u rodziców opiekujących się dziećmi chorymi onkologicznie [46]. Warto nadmienić, że wymiary osobowości typu D wiążą się także z mniej skutecznym radzeniem sobie i mniejszym zapotrzebowaniem na wsparcie społeczne, co może nasilać objawy PTSD.…”