Patterns of distress in parents of children undergoing stem cell transplantation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Hematology
• Psychosocial Support

Background:

• Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation (BMT) is a complex procedure for children.
• Parental distress is a significant factor impacting the BMT experience.
• Understanding parental distress trajectories is crucial for effective support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess parental distress levels during pediatric BMT.
• To identify factors associated with parental distress.
• To examine the relationship between parent and child distress.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, longitudinal study with 151 parents of children undergoing BMT.
• Repeated measures of parental distress (mood, stress, burden) weekly and monthly.
• Concurrent assessment of child distress (somatic, mood) via parent and child report.

Main Results:

• Parents experienced significant distress peaks from admission to 3 weeks post-BMT.
• Parental distress largely resolved by 4-6 months post-BMT.
• Lower parental socioeconomic status (SES) correlated with higher distress; child distress predicted parental distress trajectories.

Conclusions:

• Parental distress during pediatric BMT is transient but significant, particularly in early phases.
• Socioeconomic status and child's distress are key factors influencing parental distress.
• Interventions targeting parental distress, especially for lower SES families, are warranted.