General distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and coping strategies in parents of children with cancer

ABSTRACT

This study assesses symptoms of emotional and post-traumatic distress in 73 parents of children with cancer, as well as coping strategies adopted by these parents. A comparison of 35 parents whose child is in the treatment stage vs. 38 parents whose child has already ended the treatment was carried out and differences between both subgroups were not found in any of the considered variables. Reviewing the total sample, an estimated prevalence of clinically significant emotional distress has been obtained in 36% of the parents and clinically significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress in 49% of the cases. Coping strategies that predict greater emotional distress and greater symptoms of post-traumatic stress are guilt and denial. Implications are derived at the level of psychological intervention in parents of child cancer patients.(AU)