The family's functioning with newly diagnosed breast cancer in the mother: The development of an explanatory model

Abstract

Despite the high rates of breast cancer in the child-rearing mother, there is extremely limited research on the effects of the illness on the children, marriage, and parent-child relationship. The current study tested an explanatory model of family functioning with breast cancer based on data obtained from standardized questionnaires from 80 diagnosed mothers and partners with young school-age children. Path analysis results for data obtained from both the mothers and the partners revealed a similar pattern. More frequently experienced illness demands were associated with higher levels of parental depressed mood which negatively affected the marriage. When the marriage was less well adjusted, it negatively affected the family's coping behavior. Household functioning was positively affected by heightened coping activity and by higher levels of marital adjustment. Children functioned better when the non-ill parent more frequently interacted with them and their families coped more frequently with their problems.

Kinder körperlich kranker Eltern: Psychische Belastungen, Wege der Bewältigung und Perspektiven der seelischen Gesundheitsvorsorge

“…Insbesondere die Dauer der Erkrankung schien in keiner der bisherigen Studien eine Rolle zu spielen (Lewis, Hammond, Woods, 1993;Visser et al, 2005;Huizinga et al, 2005b;Howes et al, 1994;Compas et al, 1994;Compas, Worsham, Ey, Howell, 1996;Welch et al, 1996;Watson et al, 2006). Die niederländische Forschergruppe um Visser Huizinga et al, 2005) (Watson et al, 2006).…”

Análisis de la experiencia subjetiva en mujeres con cáncer de mama

“…Acompañarlas con una actitud de respeto y cuidado en el proceso de enfrentarse a su nueva realidad corporal, en la pérdida de sus anteriores roles vitales, en la construcción de nuevos roles, así como hacer partícipes de este proceso a las personas que conforman su entorno íntimo, son temas que deben formar parte del tratamiento integral de las personas con cáncer de mama. Se confirman las alteraciones de las dinámicas relacionales apuntadas en otros estudios [48][49][50] , por lo que se torna fundamental detectar las posibles dificultades que surgen por miedos a la reacción de una misma o del otro y proporcionar espacios de encuentro y apoyo que posibiliten que todo esto pueda hablarse, elaborarse y enfrentarse con las personas de su entorno significativo.…”

Development of a Web-based Family Intervention for BRCA Carriers and Their Biological Relatives: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Usability Study (Preprint)

“…Validated instruments assessed family communication, [68] knowledge of breast cancer risk factors [69] and breast cancer genetics [62], perceived breast cancer risk [70], fear of cancer recurrence [71,72], decisional conflict [73], coping [74], self-efficacy [75] and intention for genetic testing [76,77]. Access to genetic services was assessed with multiple response questions regarding a provider recommendation, "my doctor said I don't need it"; availability of services, "clinics are too far away"; accessibility of services, "lack of transportation"; and acceptability of services, "I would rather not know if I have a mutation connected to cancer.…”