The impact of childhood cancer on parental separation, divorce, and family planning in Denmark

Mader, Luzius; Hargreave, Marie; Frederiksen, Line Elmerdahl; Bidstrup, Pernille Envold; Dalton, Susanne Oksbjerg; Kjær, Susanne K.; Nielsen, Thomas Tjørnelund; Krøyer, Anja; Winther, Jeanette Falck; Erdmann, Friederike

doi:10.1002/cncr.32901

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…While the effects are fairly small, are line with the most recent register-based evidence. Mader et al (2020) found slight reduction in risk of parental separation following child cancer using discrete-time hazard regression models. Interestingly, register-based evidence from 20 years ago (?…”

Section: S-9mentioning

confidence: 92%

Gender inequality reinforced: the impact of a child's health shock on parents' labor market trajectories

Vaalavuo¹,

Salokangas²,

Tahvonen³

2022

Preprint

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This article employs a couple-level framework to examine how a child’s severe illness affects within-family gender inequality in a Northern European context. We study the parental labor market responses to a child’s cancer diagnosis by exploiting an event study methodology and individual-level administrative data onhospitalizations and labor market variables for the total population in Finland. We focus on the differences in the effects by gender, breadwinner status, cancer severity and age of children. We find that child cancer has a negative impact on the labor income of both the mother and the father. This effect is considerably larger for women, and therefore leads to an increase in gender inequality on top of the well-documented motherhood penalty related to childbirth. However, mothers who are the main breadwinners in the family experience a smaller reduction in their contribution to household income. Additionally, older age of the child at cancer diagnosis and less severe cancer type potentially protect against gendered responses. These new insights provide evidence on gender roles when a child falls ill and show how child health affects gender inequality in two-parent households.

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Section: S-9mentioning

confidence: 92%

Gender inequality reinforced: the impact of a child's health shock on parents' labor market trajectories

Vaalavuo¹,

Salokangas²,

Tahvonen³

2022

Preprint

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“…The Civil Registration System and the unique personal identification numbers used in all Danish registries enabled accurate linkage of individual information across registries ( 15 ). The study population has previously been described ( 16 , 17 ), and detailed information is given in the online supplement ( Supplementary Methods , available online). Briefly, we identified 7636 children diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 years in 1982-2014 from the Danish Cancer Registry ( 18 ) (see Figure 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital Contacts for Psychiatric Disorders in Parents of Children With Cancer in Denmark

Mader

Frederiksen

Bidstrup

et al. 2021

JNCI Cancer Spectrum

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Background Having a child diagnosed with cancer is a devastating experience that may affect parentś mental health. We aimed to assess the risk of hospital contacts for psychiatric disorders in parents of children with cancer. Methods We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study using Danish registry data. Parents of children diagnosed with cancer between 1982-2014 (n = 6,689 mothers, n = 5,509 fathers) were matched with comparison parents of cancer-free children (n = 67,544 mothers, n = 55,756 fathers). We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the risk of hospital contacts for any psychiatric disorder and specific disorders. Cox models were also used to investigate socio-demographic and cancer-related risk factors for psychiatric disorders. Results Incidence rates of hospital contacts for any psychiatric disorder were 426 per 100,000 person-years in mothers of children with cancer and 345 per 100,000 person-years in comparison mothers. For fathers the respective incidence rates were 260 and 262 cases per 100,000 person-years. Compared to parents of cancer-free children, mothers of children with cancer were at an increased risk of hospital contacts for any psychiatric disorder (HR = 1.23, 95%-CI = 1.12-1.36), while no elevated risk was seen in fathers (HR = 0.99, 95%-CI = 0.87-1.13). Among mothers, risks were particularly elevated for affective and stress-related disorders. Parents of deceased children and children diagnosed at a younger age were at particular risk of hospital contacts for psychiatric disorders. Conclusion Hospital contacts for psychiatric disorders were overall rare. Healthcare professionals should draw attention to subgroups of vulnerable parents to meet their needs of support and adequate treatment.

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“…In addition, having a child with cancer may negatively impact levels of income and employment status, which can put further strain on the family 6 . Childhood cancer has not been associated with an increased risk of separation or divorce among parents 7 . Still, the experience of parenting a child with cancer can be described as an exceptional situation for the whole family, with a likely impact on the couple relationship, for example, by changing the way parents talk to each other, 8,9 or by making sexuality and intimacy difficult 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…among parents. 7 Still, the experience of parenting a child with cancer can be described as an exceptional situation for the whole family, with a likely impact on the couple relationship, for example, by changing the way parents talk to each other, 8,9 or by making sexuality and intimacy difficult. 10 Parents may also struggle to give each other support in the distressing situation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parenting a child with cancer and maintaining a healthy couple relationship: Findings from the Family Talk Intervention

Holm,

Lundberg,

Lövgren

et al. 2023

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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BackgroundDespite the challenges that caring for a child with cancer brings for parents, little knowledge is available concerning the effects on the parents’ couple relationship. Furthermore, few interventions have been designed to support parents in their couple relationship. The aim of this paper was, therefore, to explore parents’ experiences of their couple relationship while having a dependent child with cancer and the support they received from a family‐based intervention, the Family Talk Intervention (FTI).MethodsData for this paper were taken from semi‐structured interviews performed in a pilot study of the FTI in the context of pediatric oncology. In total, 22 couples were interviewed after participating in the FTI. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsParents described how maintaining a couple relationship while living with childhood cancer could be very challenging and was not given the highest priority. The FTI was considered a way of providing important support to the couple and a chance for them to sit down together and listen to each other's perspectives on the situation. Parents described that the FTI had helped them gain an increased mutual understanding, sometimes also helping them to realize that they needed more extensive professional support in their relationship.ConclusionsLiving with childhood cancer and upholding a healthy couple relationship is challenging for parents. The FTI has the potential to support couples, mainly by providing opportunities for parents to communicate with each other. However, some couples may be in need of a tailored clinical intervention.

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The impact of childhood cancer on parental separation, divorce, and family planning in Denmark

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Gender inequality reinforced: the impact of a child's health shock on parents' labor market trajectories

Gender inequality reinforced: the impact of a child's health shock on parents' labor market trajectories

Hospital Contacts for Psychiatric Disorders in Parents of Children With Cancer in Denmark

Parenting a child with cancer and maintaining a healthy couple relationship: Findings from the Family Talk Intervention

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