Profiles of parental coping with paediatric cancer and their associations with parental illness adaptation.

AIMS

To identify profiles of coping in parents of children with cancer and their underlying factors and to examine which profile(s) are associated with illness adaptation.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study utilizing surveys among parents of children with cancer (n = 89).

METHODS

Questionnaires included socio-demographics, ways of coping, parenting stress, depression, post-traumatic symptoms, illness adjustment and quality of life. Parental coping profiles were identified via latent profile analysis. Logistic multinomial regression was used to identify predictors of coping profiles. Adaptation outcomes were compared across the coping profiles via multivariable analyses of variance with Bonferroni adjustments.

RESULTS

Five profiles were identified: The 'Strong Repertoire' used coping strategies moderate to high degree, with a positive-active orientation; The 'Moderate-Activist' used a similar pattern, rather more moderately; The 'Self-Regulator' used self-content strategies; The 'Mild-Engager' used active-engaging strategies; The 'Avoidant Coper' used avoidant-passive strategies. Parental stress predicted coping profiles, so that parents experiencing greater stress utilized the 'Avoidant Coper' to a greater degree. Group comparisons revealed that 'Avoidant-Copers' had more depressive and post-traumatic symptoms, worse illness adjustment and lower quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Passive-avoidant mechanisms of coping may be maladaptive in terms of parental cancer adaptation and indicative of lower resilience.

IMPACT

Findings can direct clinicians to promote familial resilience by adapting policy and practice to meet familial needs.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Not applicable.