Parenting concerns of young parents with cancer in China: A descriptive qualitative study

To explore the parenting concerns experienced by young patients with cancer and their coping strategies in the context of Chinese culture.

A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025. A purposive sample of 20 young parents with cancer aged 18-44 years parenting at least one child under 18 was recruited. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Word 2021 following the conventional content analysis, which allows gaining direct information from participants without imposing theoretical perspectives. Rigor was established through member checking, peer debriefing, and audit trail.

Four themes and twelve subthemes were identified: (1) Parenting dilemma (declining parenting competence, when parents are not around, the irreplaceability of the role in parents, parental decision-making on disclosing the cancer, taking a toll on the children, and unmet needs), (2) Individual strategies for coping with concerns (taking action and internal regulation), (3) External factors for buffering concerns (perceived support and perceived livelihood benefits), (4) Internalizing concerns into strength (being strong for the child and responsibility supports response to treatment challenges).

Young Chinese parents with cancer encountered multifaceted parenting dilemmas. They adopted strategies and utilized support resources to manage these issues, demonstrating the capacity to transform concerns into strength. This study provided comprehensive insights into the parenting concerns of Chinese parents with cancer and informed the development of localized support interventions. We recommend government-community collaboration and routine screening for parenting concerns in psychological assessments to ensure targeted mental health services for young parents with cancer.