Coping and the course of mother's depressive symptoms during and after pediatric bone marrow transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of maternal coping strategies in depressive symptoms experienced by mothers of children undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT).


METHODS
A total of 207 mothers completed measures of coping and depressive symptoms at the time of the child's BMT, 3 and 6 months post-BMT. The sample was collected between 1998 and 2002. The acceptance rate was 73%. The contribution of demographic, illness and treatment parameters, and mothers' concerns about the child were also evaluated. Growth curve modeling was used to evaluate the role of coping in the course of depressive symptoms. Both main effects and interactions of coping strategies with time of assessment were evaluated.


RESULTS
Acceptance and humor were associated with reductions in maternal depressive symptoms, and planning and alcohol/substance use were associated with increases in maternal depressive symptoms. Positive reframing, use of emotional support, and use of religion were associated with the course of depressive symptoms, but the magnitude of associations differed depending on the use of the coping strategies at the time of transplantation. Mothers' fears about the child also predicted depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Acceptance and humor may be targets for behavioral interventions to reduce mothers' depressive symptoms during and after pediatric BMT hospitalization.
Manne
Sharon
S
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
Duhamel
Katherine
K
Ostroff
Jamie
J
Parsons
Susan
S
Martini
D Richard
DR
Williams
Sharon E
SE
Mee
Laura
L
Sexson
Sandra
S
Austin
Jane
J
Winkel
Gary
G
Boulad
Farid
F
Redd
William H
WH
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic