title: Trajectories of adjustment in mothers of children with newly diagnosed cancer: a natural history investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were (a) to assess negative affectivity and posttraumatic symptomatology in mothers following the diagnosis of cancer in their children; (b) to examine sociodemographic and psychosocial variables associated with change in distress over time; and (c) to identify distinct subgroups of mothers whose patterns and trajectories of adjustment can be distinguished according to available predictor data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twelve mothers at seven sites were assessed just following their child's diagnosis, and again 3 months and 6 months later. Primary outcomes included measures of mood disturbance, depressive symptoms, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, mothers demonstrated a pattern of mildly elevated negative affectivity and posttraumatic symptomatology initially, with steady improvements evident at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Distinct adjustment trajectories were evident within the sample as a whole, indicating subgroups of mothers with high-declining, moderate-stable, and low-stable distress levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight considerable resilience among mothers facing the stress of childhood cancer. Intervention efforts aimed at reducing maternal distress might best be targeted towards the subgroup of mothers who may be predicted to exhibit the highest level of distress.
authors.affiliation: Schneider Children's Medical Center, Israel. mdolgin@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dolgin
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phipps
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fairclough
authors.forename: Olle Jane Z
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Sahler
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Askins
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Noll
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Varni
authors.forename: Ernest R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011584:Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors