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Predicting parenting stress in caregivers of children with brain tumours
Emily Bennett1, Martin William English, Michael Rennoldson
1University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Emily.bennett@nuh.nhs.uk
Insights
Parenting stress is high in caregivers of children with brain tumors. External locus of control and accepting responsibility for coping significantly increase stress, highlighting the need for targeted support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Caregiving
Background:
- Parenting stress is a significant concern for caregivers of children with serious illnesses.
- Children diagnosed with brain tumors face unique challenges impacting family dynamics and parental well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key factors contributing to parenting stress in caregivers of children with brain tumors.
- To understand the relationship between stress, coping mechanisms, locus of control, and perceived child disability.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 37 parents of children with brain tumors.
- Utilized the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI/SF) to measure stress levels.
- Employed correlation analysis and multiple linear regression to analyze associations.
Main Results:
- 51% of parents reported clinically significant parenting stress, exceeding general population norms.
- External locus of control and coping by accepting responsibility explained 67% of the variance in parenting stress.
- Coping styles, child behavior problems, and time since diagnosis were not significant predictors of stress.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of parenting stress necessitates ongoing support for families of children with brain tumors.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing parents' internal locus of control and adaptive coping strategies.
- Understanding contributing factors is crucial for developing effective support programs for these caregivers.
Objective:
The purpose of the study was to identify factors that contribute to parenting stress in caregivers of children diagnosed with brain tumours.
Methods:
The study was cross-sectional and recruited 37 participants from a clinical database at a specialist children's hospital. Parents were sent questionnaires, which were used to measure factors related to stress in caregivers of children diagnosed with a brain tumour. Stress levels were measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI/SF). Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to examine the associations between parenting stress and coping styles, locus of control, parent-perceived child disability and time since diagnosis.
Results:
Results revealed that 51% of parents were experiencing clinically significant levels of stress. The mean stress level of parents in the study was significantly higher than the PSI/SF norms (t = 4.7, p < .001). Regression analysis revealed that external locus of control and coping by accepting responsibility accounted for 67% of the variance in parenting stress. Other styles of coping, child behaviour problems and the amount of time since diagnosis were not found to be predictive of levels of parenting stress.
Conclusions:
There was a high prevalence of parenting stress in caregivers of children with a brain tumour. An external locus of control and coping by accepting responsibility increased the likelihood of elevated levels of stress. Results emphasised the importance of ongoing support for parents of children with brain tumours. Intervention might helpfully be centred on strategies to increase parents' internal locus of control.
