Predictors of affective responses of mothers and fathers of children with cancer

Abstract

We investigated predictors of affective responses for 125 parents (77 mothers, 48 fathers) of children with various types of cancer who varied in time of diagnosis from newly diagnosed to 13 years following cancer treatment. The primary rationale of the investigation was to determine whether cognitive appraisals, perceived social supports, and caregivers' perceptions of children's behavior would predict affective responses differentially for mothers and fathers. We defined affectivity as self-reported depressive symptoms, and state and trait anxiety symptoms. Parents did not differ on any of the variables, including affective responses, although differential predictors of affective responses were revealed for mothers and fathers. Affiliation-related attributions were associated with affective responses for mothers, and achievement-related attributions and perceived social support were associated with affective responses for fathers.