Maternal preoccupation and parenting as predictors of emotional and behavioral problems in children of women with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that differences between sicker and not-so-sick women in their preoccupation with their illness and parenting behavior can explain why some investigators find that children of breast cancer patients fare better than controls and other investigators find the reverse.


METHODS
Forty-two women with metastasized breast cancer (sicker mothers) and 45 women with a first occurrence of nonmetastasized breast cancer (not-so-sick mothers) rated the degree of their preoccupation with the disease, their parenting behavior, mood, and social supports and the emotional and behavioral symptoms in one of their children. Their 12- to 18-year-old children rated their mothers' parenting behavior, their own emotional and behavioral symptoms, and their self-esteem.


RESULTS
Sicker mothers reported relatively less preoccupation. They, and their children, reported less poor parenting and fewer externalizing symptoms in the children. Regression analyses revealed further differences between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Less preoccupation with their illness and less poor parenting behavior by sicker mothers may explain why their children seem to fare better then those of not-so-sick mothers. Formulations concerning families of breast cancer patients should include consideration of the effect of the mothers' perception of the severity of their illness.
Sigal
John J
JJ
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. cdovick@icfp.jgh.mcgill.ca
Perry
J Christopher
JC
Robbins
James M
JM
Gagné
Marie-Anik
MA
Nassif
Edgard
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D016487:Parenting; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index