Children’s Perceived Social Support After a Parent Is Diagnosed with Cancer

Abstract

This study examined perceived social support among children of parents diagnosed with cancer. Twenty-nine participants, ages 18-38, who had been children when one of their parents was diagnosed with cancer provided demographic information and participated in an interview about the impact of their parent's illness on their lives. Five common themes characterized participants' perceived social support received during their parent's illness: (a) listening and understanding; (b) encouragement and reassurance; (c) tangible assistance; (d) communication about cancer and treatment; and (e) engaging in normal life experiences. Depending on the circumstances, however, a given type of social support was perceived to be helpful to some, while perceived by others as ineffective or detrimental. Differences in respondents' perceptions of the effects of specific forms of received social support speak to the need for individualized support for children of cancer patients based upon each child's specific needs and circumstances.

Support for Children as Next of Kin and Systematic Follow up - Group Leaders’ and Managers’ Perspectives Within Non-profit Organizations in Sweden

“…Earlier studies have also shown that children's knowledge and understanding regarding their family situation have a crucial impact on how they further are able to handle the situation [35,36]. In line with the present results, previous studies have emphasized the importance of the professional's role in age-appropriate communication and integration with children as next of kin [2,37,38] highlighted the lack of supportive activities for children as next of kin and indicated that these activities need to be further developed and evaluated. In our study, the participants experienced important child developmental results from their supportive activities.…”

Supporting children facing a parent's cancer diagnosis: a systematic review of children's psychosocial needs and existing interventions

“…specialist nurse) available to facilitate communication and answer tricky questions was cited as potentially helpful in one moderate and one high‐quality study of children (6–18 years), including those with a parent with advanced cancer (Kennedy & Lloyd‐Williams ; Wong et al . ).…”

“…Open communication between parents and children was seen as helpful in reducing confusion, helplessness and isolation (Wong et al . ), while having a health professional (e.g. specialist nurse) available to facilitate communication and answer tricky questions was cited as potentially helpful in one moderate and one high‐quality study of children (6–18 years), including those with a parent with advanced cancer (Kennedy & Lloyd‐Williams ; Wong et al .…”

Social support for South Asian Muslim parents with life-limiting illness living in Scotland: a multiperspective qualitative study

“…Having a parent with life-limiting illness or who has died has been linked to stress, anxiety and poor psychological health in children and adolescents 3 4 8–10. Disability, pain, emotional distress and the need to attend long-term treatment and/or palliative care make it hard for parents to provide the same level of support as before they became ill.…”

“…Moreover, parents with life-limiting illnesses struggle to maintain normality for their children in helping them with their daily activities such as going to school or for outings 11–18. Social support allows children to engage in important coping processes such as discussing their feelings, developing enjoyable memories with their parents and being able to temporarily take a break from stresses in the home 3. In order to maintain this role, parents often desire the help of formal social support services in order for their children to be able to live as normal daily lives as possible in the context of life-limiting illness 11–18…”