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. 2008 Feb;50(2):289-92.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.21262.

Acute stress in parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer

Anna Maria Patiño-Fernández  1 , Ahna L H Pai, Melissa Alderfer, Wei-Ting Hwang, Anne Reilly, Anne E Kazak
Affiliations

Acute stress in parents of children newly diagnosed with cancer

Anna Maria Patiño-Fernández et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and subclinical symptoms of acute stress (SAS) may be a useful framework for understanding the psychological reactions of mothers and fathers of children newly diagnosed with a pediatric malignancy.

Patients and methods: Mothers (N = 129) and fathers (N = 72) of 138 children newly diagnosed with cancer completed questionnaires assessing acute distress, anxiety, and family functioning. Demographic data were also gathered. Inclusion criteria were: a confirmed diagnosis of a pediatric malignancy in a child under the age of 18 years without prior chronic or life threatening illness and fluency in English or Spanish.

Results: Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were used to examine predictors of SAS. Fifty-one percent (N = 66) of mothers and 40% (N = 29) of fathers met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ASD. The majority of the sample reported experiencing at least one SAS. General anxiety, but not family functioning, was a strong predictor of SAS in both mothers and fathers even after controlling for demographic characteristics.

Conclusions: Immediately following their child's diagnosis of cancer, most mothers and fathers experience SAS, with a subsample meeting criteria for ASD. More anxious parents are at heightened risk of more intense reactions. The findings support the need for evidence-based psychosocial support at diagnosis and throughout treatment for families who are at risk for acute distress reactions.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Endorsed Symptoms (%) of ASD in Mothers and Fathers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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