Comparison of coping strategies in Iranian adolescents with cancer and their parents

Investigating psychological problems in caregiver of pediatrics with cancer: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Cancer is a type of chronic illness that causes many issues for patients and their caregivers, including a wide range of psychological problems. This study was conducted to determine the status and psychological problems of caregivers of pediatric patients with cancer who live in Iran.

METHODS

All articles from 2000 to March 2019 related to the psychological of caregivers and their child's cancer were included in the search. Domestic websites in Iran and international databases were searched. Keywords of the search included child, cancer, malignancy, care burden, stress, anxiety, depression, coping strategies, psychological hardiness, posttraumatic stress, parents, father, mother, and pediatric. The search, data extraction, quality assessment and screening were conducted independently by two researchers.

RESULTS

In the initial search, 345 articles were extracted regarding the psychological problems of caregivers. After final screening 15 articles were selected; from these four referred to care burden, four articles for coping skills, three articles for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and four articles for stress, anxiety, and depression among carers of children with cancer.

CONCLUSION

Considering the existence of psychological problems such as caregiver burden, PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression in caregivers of children with cancer, it is necessary to provide nursing interventions for this group of parents; particularly interventions that provide the necessary ground for reducing psychological problems and improving caregivers' mental health.

Maternal and Paternal Influences on Children's Coping with Cancer-Related Stress

Childhood cancer is a significant source of stress for children and families, and children's coping with cancer-related stress is a key predictor of emotional adjustment. To extend understanding of the determinants of children's coping with cancer-related stress, this study examined whether mothers' and fathers' functioning after their child's diagnosis-including coping and depressive symptoms-is predictive of children's coping over time. Participants included 166 children (M_age = 13.47, SD = 2.47, 51.2% female), 161 mothers, and 83 fathers. Approximately two months post-diagnosis (T1), parents reported on their coping and depressive symptoms. At T1 and approximately 12 months later (T2), children reported on their coping. Results indicated that mothers' coping and depressive symptoms were correlated with children's coping at T1; fathers' coping and depressive symptoms were generally not associated with children's coping at T1. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that fathers' secondary control coping (i.e., coping aimed at adapting to cancer-related stress) predicted higher levels of secondary control coping in children over time. Mothers' depressive symptoms predicted lower levels of secondary control coping over time in girls, and fathers' depressive symptoms predicted lower levels of secondary control coping over time across sex. Parents' functioning after their child's cancer diagnosis may shape how children cope with cancer-related stress. Parents' coping and depressive symptoms may be important targets for interventions aiming to promote positive adjustment in children with cancer.