The Role of Social Support in Parental Adjustment to Pediatric Cancer

Abstract

During the course of their child's illness and medical treatment, parents of children with cancer may experience many difficult challenges. Though there is evidence that social support can help mitigate problems associated with other major life stresses, little empirical research has been conducted on the effects of social support on the psychosocial problems of the family when a member is being treated for cancer. The present study systematically assessed adjustment difficulties in 107 parents of children with cancer. Stage of treatment for cancer, parent age, and parent sex were examined for differing patterns of psychosocial adjustment. Younger parents (< 30 years of age) reported significantly greater psychosocial adjustment difficulties than older parents (> 30 years) in their domestic environment, sexual relations, extended family relationships, personal psychological distress, as well as total psychosocial adjustment. Parents whose child had died demonstrated significantly poorer adjustment in their extended family relationship, domestic environment, as well as in their overall psychosocial adjustment. Several perceived sources of social support appeared to mitigate psychosocial adjustment difficulties in parents whose child was currently in treatment. In parents whose child was alive but not undergoing active medical treatment, only support from relatives appeared to temper adjustment difficulties. Parents whose child had died did not appear to benefit from any source of social support. The results are discussed in terms of the identification of a potentially high-risk group for psychosocial difficulties.