Parents and Children Coping with Pediatric Cancer

Abstract

Children who are diagnosed with cancer and their families must learn to cope with and communicate about the cancer diagnosis, treatment and its side effects, and hospital stays. Parents are their primary support; they are there to help them cope with and understand this new experience. Mothers and adolescents reported on emotional distress, coping, and communication. Results showed that secondary control coping is related to less emotional distress in pediatric cancer patients and that parents are more likely to communicate about information if they think it is important. Open communication is important in reducing emotional distress, but if problems in communication are already present, they override the impact of open communication. Implications, limitations, and areas of future research are discussed.