When mom or dad has cancer: II. Coping, cognitive appraisals, and psychological distress in children of cancer patients.
Cognitive appraisals and coping were examined in children, adolescents, and young adults (N = 134) faced with the diagnosis of cancer in a parent. All 3 age groups perceived low personal control and high external control over their parent's illness and used relatively little problem-focused coping. Adolescents and young adults reported more emotion-focused coping and dual-focused coping (both problem- and emotion-focused in intent) than did preadolescent children. Stage and prognosis of parent's cancer were related to appraisals of greater seriousness and stressfulness, and to more avoidance; however, only appraisals of stress were related to symptoms of anxiety-depression. Emotion-focused coping was related to greater avoidance and to higher symptoms of anxiety-depression; coping and control beliefs did not interact in their association with anxiety-depression symptoms.
Compas
B E
BE
Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA. b.compas@dewey.uvm.edu
Worsham
N L
NL
Ey
S
S
Howell
D C
DC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*