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Infancy and pediatric cancer: an exploratory study of parent psychological distress

L Vernon1,2, D Eyles1, C Hulbert2

  • 1Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Psycho-Oncology
|May 6, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Parents of infants facing cancer, whether as patients or siblings, experience significant psychological distress, particularly posttraumatic stress. Distress is higher for parents of infant siblings, underscoring the need for targeted support.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Psychological Impact
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Limited research exists on the psychological experiences of parents with infants in pediatric oncology settings.
  • This study addresses the gap by examining psychological distress in parents of infant patients and infant siblings of cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the rates and risk factors of psychological distress among parents of infants diagnosed with cancer.
  • To compare distress levels between parents of infant patients and parents of infant siblings.
  • To explore the influence of factors like time post-diagnosis and family structure on parental distress.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited mothers and fathers of infants under two years old, including infant patients (n=37) and infant siblings (n=29).
  • Utilized the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-SF) and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL).
  • Collected data from 41 mothers, 25 fathers, and 21 couple dyads at a single oncology center.

Main Results:

  • Elevated cancer-related posttraumatic stress symptoms were reported by 47.5% of mothers and 37.5% of fathers.
  • Parents of infant siblings showed significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms and trends toward higher anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms compared to parents of infant patients.
  • Parental anxiety increased with time post-diagnosis; only the number of children in the family was associated with psychological distress.

Conclusions:

  • Parent-child relationships are crucial in infancy, and cancer diagnoses during this period significantly impact parents psychologically.
  • Family structure contributes to parental distress, highlighting the need for tailored support.
  • A traumatic stress framework is relevant for understanding parental experiences in pediatric cancer.
Abstract

Keywords:
cancerinfantoncologyparentpsychological distresssibling

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