Cancer families with children: factors associated with family functioning--a comparative study in Finland.

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to examine the factors associated with family functioning in families with children where a parent has cancer in comparison to families without cancer.

SAMPLE AND METHODS

Eighty-five families including 85 cancer patients, 61 healthy spouses and 68 children between 11 and 17 years of age, and a control group of 59 families including 105 adults and 65 children were given a set of questionnaires including a background variable questionnaire, the Family Assessment Device, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Sense of Coherence (SOC). A statistical multilevel model allowing the use of data from several informants belonging to the same family was constructed for the analysis of associations between variables.

RESULTS

Maternal depression and SOC of family members were associated with family functioning; maternal depression impaired family functioning and family members' SOC improved it. No difference was found between the clinical group and the control group.

CONCLUSION

In clinical work with cancer families with children, maternal depression and SOC should be focused on.