Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasms in Children as a Factor Inducing Negative Emotions and Toxic Stress in Parents

Grażyna Cepuch, Agnieszka Kruszecka-Krówka (), Marzena Samardakiewicz, Agnieszka Gniadek and Agnieszka Micek
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Grażyna Cepuch: Nursing and Midwifery Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika Str. 25, 31-501 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Kruszecka-Krówka: Nursing and Midwifery Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika Str. 25, 31-501 Krakow, Poland
Marzena Samardakiewicz: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences College Academicum, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Str. 7, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Gniadek: Nursing and Midwifery Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika Str. 25, 31-501 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Micek: Nursing and Midwifery Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kopernika Str. 25, 31-501 Krakow, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-18

Abstract: Parents whose children suffer from cancer experience chronic negative emotions, which may have a detrimental influence on their mental health. The aim of this study, conducted with a group of parents whose children were hospitalized for leukemia or lymphoma, was to assess stress, anxiety, depression, aggression and stress coping strategies as well as the correlations that take place between them. The study was conducted with a group of 101 parents of early school children (aged between 7 and 12) who were hospitalized for cancer in three medical centers in southern Poland. The HADS –M, PSS-10 and COPE questionnaires were used in the study. Mothers were found to experience higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress as compared to fathers. It was more common for men to resort to the strategy of substance use. Socio-demographic variables did not determine the examined emotions, the level of stress and the choice of stress coping strategies, with the exception of the strategy of suppression of competing activities. A positive relationship was found between the incidence of negative emotions and the selected strategies of coping with stress. Early diagnosis of disorders and assessment of parents’ strategies of coping might help to counteract long-term consequences of trauma.

Keywords: children with cancer; parents; negative emotions; toxic stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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