Assessment of parental psychological stress in pediatric cancer: a review.
OBJECTIVE
We present an overview of the literature between 1997 and 2007 on parental stress reactions following the diagnosis of childhood cancer and we evaluate methodological strengths and weaknesses of the studies.


METHODS
PubMed, PsychInfo, and Cinahl databases were used. Sixty-seven were included in the review.


RESULTS
The conceptualization of parental stress and timing of assessment varies considerably between the studies, which makes comparison difficult. Most emotional stress reactions are seen around the time of diagnosis, with mothers reporting more symptoms than fathers. As a group, parents seem relatively resilient, although a subset of parents reports continuing stress even up to 5 years or more postdiagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors recommend clear definitions of parental stress, fixed points in time to assess parental stress, and an approach that highlights both parental strengths and weaknesses. Improved assessment can contribute to tailoring psychological care to those parents most in need.
Vrijmoet-Wiersma
C M Jantien
CM
Leiden University Medical Center, Pediatric Department, PO Box 9600, Room J6-174, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. c.m.j.vrijmoet-wiersma@lumc.nl
van Klink
Jeanine M M
JM
Kolk
Annemarie M
AM
Koopman
Hendrik M
HM
Ball
Lynne M
LM
Maarten Egeler
R
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000379:methods*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology