Maternal Cancer and Perception of Child Psychological Adjustment: The Role of Mother's Anxiety, Depression, and Parenting Stress

Simple Summary In the last decades, the incidence of early-onset cancers, defined as cancers diagnosed in adults <50 years of age, has been rising in many countries. A diagnosis of cancer in a mother is a burden not only for the patient herself but also for the entire family system and particularly for her minor children. Despite its relevance, this topic has been little explored in the existing literature. The aim of our study was to analyze aspects associated with children's psychosocial adjustment regarding maternal cancer. Following this general objective, we considered age and sex of the child and factors related to maternal cancer and mothers' psychological adjustment. We found that the time passed since the diagnosis and the levels of mothers' anxiety and parenting stress were associated with children's difficulties. These findings may help health professionals to develop structured and tailored programs to support both mothers and children after an oncological diagnosis. A mother's cancer diagnosis may have consequences for all family members, particularly for children, since it makes a parent less physically and emotionally available, with effects on the relationship with the child and his/her development. The main aim of this study was to analyze children's psychological adjustment in the context of maternal cancer by considering factors related to the child (i.e., age and sex), the mother (psychological adjustment), and cancer (i.e., time elapsed from the diagnosis and current oncological treatment). Self-report questionnaires investigating mothers' parenting stress, depression, anxiety, and children's emotional and behavioral problems were administered to 124 mothers (mean age = 44.52 years; SD = 7.22) diagnosed with cancer. A hierarchical regression analysis highlighted that time since diagnosis and mothers' anxiety and parenting stress accounted for almost 44% of the variance of the children's difficulties. Maternal depression, current oncological treatment, and the child's age and sex were not statistically significant. Higher mothers' parenting stress and anxiety and a longer time elapsed since the first diagnosis predicted higher levels of children's emotional and behavioral problems. These findings highlight the need to identify precursors of childhood distress in the context of maternal cancer and to develop structured programs to support both mothers and children.

Automated summary

In recent decades, the incidence of early-onset cancers has been increasing in many countries. A cancer diagnosis in a mother not only burdens the patient but also affects the entire family system, especially her minor children. This study aimed to analyze factors associated with children's psychosocial adjustment regarding maternal cancer. The findings showed that the time since diagnosis and mothers' anxiety and parenting stress were related to children's difficulties.