title: Coping and adaptation in parents of children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: The coping and adaptation of 30 parents of children suffering from A.L.L. (during first remission), was studied with the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT--Indian modification). Emotional distress was evident in the stories of 83%, only 37% maintained an expectation of a positive outcome. Parents' psychiatric morbidity was found to be associated with the gender of the parent, employment status, and on the TAT--with the expectation of an unfavourable outcome, feelings of lack of self efficacy and emotional distress. Particularly depression. A significant association between the presence of psychiatric disturbance in the children and the parents was also found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Choudhry
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology