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Updated: Feb 3, 2026
Isolation and Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells HSCs
Published on: February 25, 2007
Parent Psychological and Physical Health Outcomes in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Jessica Ward1, Louis Fogg, Cheryl Rodgers
1Author Affiliations: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, California (Drs Ward and Kapoor); University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles (Dr Kapoor); Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, Illinois (Drs Ward, Fogg, Breitenstein, and Swanson); and Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Rodgers).
Insights
Parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face significant caregiver demands. This study found that while parents reported moderate anxiety and depression, they also experienced less parenting stress and better health outcomes than norms, suggesting a complex recovery process.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hematology
- Psychology
Background:
- Parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are susceptible to adverse health outcomes due to intense caregiving responsibilities.
- The long-term health implications for parents following their child's HSCT require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the adverse health outcomes experienced by parents of children who survived allogeneic HSCT within the past 1 to 10 years.
- To compare the mental and physical health of these parents against normative data.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 61 parents of children who underwent allogeneic HSCT between 2005 and 2015.
- Utilized validated instruments including the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories, Perceived Stress and Parent Stress Scales, Physical Symptom Inventory, and SF-36v2.
- Compared parent-reported outcomes with normative means and stratified results based on time since HSCT.
Main Results:
- Parents reported global mental health scores lower than population norms.
- Moderate levels of anxiety (20%) and depression (23%) were observed.
- Parents reported less parenting stress and superior overall health outcomes compared to norms, with lower social functioning and general health scores noted in those within 5 years post-HSCT.
Conclusions:
- Parents of allogeneic HSCT survivors may experience simultaneous posttraumatic growth and stress.
- Early identification and targeted interventions through health screening and psychological support are crucial for parents of pediatric HSCT survivors.
Background:
Parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at risk of adverse health outcomes due to their intense caregiver demands.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to describe adverse health outcomes in parents of children who survived an allogeneic HSCT done within the past 1 to 10 years.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study, conducted at a children's hospital in the western United States, enrolled English- and Spanish-speaking parents of children who survived allogeneic HSCT between 2005 and 2015. Outcome measures included Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories, Perceived Stress and Parent Stress Scales, Physical Symptom Inventory, and Short-Form 36 version 2. Parent scores were compared with normative means. Subsequently, the parent sample was stratified by the amount of time since their child's HSCT for comparison between groups.
Results:
Fifty-four mothers and 7 fathers (n = 61) were enrolled. Global mental health scores were lower for parents in the sample compared with norms (P = .003). Parents in the sample reported moderate anxiety and depression (20% and 23%, respectively), yet reported less parenting stress and superior health outcomes compared with norms (P < .001). Social functioning and general health scores were lower for parents whose children survived an allogeneic HSCT done within the past 1 to 4.99 years (P = .012).
Conclusion:
Parents of survivors of allogeneic HSCT may concurrently experience posttraumatic growth and stress following their child's HSCT.
Implications For Practice:
Health screening and psychological support for parents of children post-HSCT may help to identify parents at risk of adverse outcomes and allow for early, targeted interventions.
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