Family Management of Pediatric Cancer: Links with Parenting Satisfaction and Psychological Distress

Abstract

Research has long acknowledged the disruptions posed by pediatric cancer diagnosis and treatment to family life. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which the family response influences parents' mental health in this adverse context are not fully understood. The main goal of the present study was to examine the direct and indirect links, via parenting satisfaction, between family condition management and psychological distress of parents of children with cancer. Participants were 201 parents (86.6% mothers) of children/adolescents diagnosed with cancer who completed self-report questionnaires assessing family condition management (family life difficulty and parental mutuality), parenting satisfaction, and psychological distress (anxiety and depression). Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed mediation model. The results showed that parenting satisfaction mediated the association between both the family condition management dimensions (family life difficulty and parental mutuality) and depression. Specifically, greater family life difficulties and lower parental mutuality were associated with lower parenting satisfaction, which, in turn, was associated with higher levels of depression. Additionally, greater family life difficulties and lower parental mutuality were directly linked to higher levels of anxiety. Multigroup analyses suggested that the model was valid across patient age groups (children vs. adolescents) and treatment status (on vs. off-treatment). These findings reinforce the need for family- and parent-based interventions in the pediatric oncology field. Interventions that target families' difficulties and promote their resources are likely to foster parenting satisfaction and psychological adjustment.

Tracing the Use of the Family Management Framework and Measure: A Scoping Review

“…Other examples of using the FaMM in studies not based in the FMSF include Muscara and colleagues’ (2015; Rayner et al, 2016) use of Kazak’s Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Model (Kazak et al, 2006) in their study of parents of children with a life-threatening condition and Son, Kim, and colleagues' (2018) use of Bandera’s Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1997) to examine factors influencing family management in the context of having a child with atopic dermatitis. In two studies, investigators reported using two frameworks, one of which was the FMSF (Salvador et al, 2019a, 2019b; Van Riper et al, 2018). In 30 studies, investigators used all FaMM scales.…”

Effect of parental mutuality on the quality of life of mothers of children with special health needs

“…The term parental mutuality corresponds to the feelings of intimacy, connection and understanding between the couple regarding the childs health condition ( 11 ) ; it refers to the parents ability to work collaboratively ( 9 ) . A number of studies indicate that parental mutuality reflects positively on the familys ability to deal with the challenges of the childs chronic condition ( 12 - 13 ) ; and that it is associated with lower levels of maternal anxiety and depression ( 14 ) and better psychological functioning ( 9 ) . In addition, the couples strong collaboration reduces family stress and positively influences the childs quality of life ( 15 ) .…”

“…Research studies on the influence of parental mutuality on the QoLRH of caregiving mothers are scarce in the international literature and do not exist in the national literature. In addition, the existing studies focus on the emotional and mental health aspects of QoLRH ( 14 - 16 ) . Furthermore, in most cases, they analyze specific subgroups of CRIANES, such as children with asthma, cancer or autism, for example.…”

Measurement of Family Management in Families of Individuals With Down Syndrome: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

“…While this is the first known study to use eight language versions of the FaMM, there are at least 16 published reports of studies using one or more of the FaMM scales in a language other than English: Chinese (Hsiao & Van Riper, 2011;Sheng et al, 2018;Zhang et al, 2014Zhang et al, , 2015Zhang, Wei, Han, et al, 2013;Zhang, Wei, Zhang, et al, 2013); Dutch (Geense et al, 2018); Korean (H. Choi & Van Riper, 2014;Ima et al, 2019;Kim & Im, 2015;Son et al, 2018); Portuguese (Mendes et al, 2016(Mendes et al, , 2017Salvador et al, 2018); and Thai (Chusri et al, 2019;Sananreangsak et al, 2012). Unfortunately, in many of these publications, the researchers did not report the ICR scores for the FaMM scales used in their study.…”