Factors During a Child's Illness Are Associated With Levels of Prolonged Grief Symptoms in Bereaved Mothers and Fathers.

PURPOSE

Previous research shows that bereaved parents are at an increased risk for intense and prolonged grief responses. To offer effective support to parents during a child's cancer treatment and after their child's death, more knowledge is needed about factors related to the child's illness trajectory that may contribute to prolonged grief in bereaved parents and about possible sex differences related to such factors. Therefore, we examined possible contributing factors associated with prolonged grief in cancer-bereaved mothers and fathers 1 to 5 years after their child died of cancer.

METHODS

We studied data from a population-based nationwide survey, including 133 mothers and 92 fathers who had lost a child to cancer 1 to 5 years earlier, using univariable and multiple regression analyses to assess the associations between prolonged grief and possible contributing variables.

RESULTS

The variables associated with lower levels of prolonged grief symptoms for mothers were being able to talk about feelings within the family ( = .00) and trusting that health care professionals made every possible effort to cure the child ( = .01). The statistically significantly associated variables for fathers were having said farewell to the deceased child in the way they wanted ( = .00) and feeling that they had received practical support from health care professionals during the child's illness trajectory ( = .01).

CONCLUSION

We found factors during the illness of children with cancer that contributed to prolonged grief for parents; these were different for mothers and fathers. The results may have implications for design of family bereavement support within pediatric oncology care, including addressing the differing needs of mothers and fathers more effectively.