Life change events and coping behaviors in families of children with cancer

Abstract

This study investigated life change events and coping behaviors in families of children with cancer compared with those who have physically healthy children. The sample consisted of 21 families with a child with cancer and 17 families with physically healthy children. All the children in the study were 6 to 12 years of age. Parents from each group completed items from the Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes and the Family Crisis Oriented Evaluation Scales. These tools evaluate stressful life change events experienced by families within a 12-month period and coping behaviors used by families during difficult situations. Families with a child who has cancer experienced significantly more stressful life change events (t = 2.15, P = 0.04) than those with physically healthy children. There were no significant differences (t = 0.23, P = 0.82) in the coping behaviors that were used by the two groups. The results provided a clearer understanding of stressful life change events that impact families with a child with cancer.