title: Problem solving and maternal distress at the time of a child's diagnosis of cancer in two-parent versus lone-parent households.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine negative affectivity and problem-solving abilities for lone mothers and those who are married/partnered subsequent to a child's diagnosis with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Negative affectivity and problem-solving strategies were assessed for 464 mothers (87 lone and 377 married/partnered) within 2-16 weeks of their child's diagnosis with cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups of mothers did not differ significantly on measures of perceived posttraumatic stress or problem-solving; lone mothers reported significantly more symptoms of depression. This difference was no longer significant when maternal education was taken into account.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Negative affectivity and problem-solving abilities were similar for lone mothers and those that are married/partnered shortly after their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Findings are discussed within the context of contemporary strategies to assess marital status as proxy variable for various underlying constructs.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Child Development Unit, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Iobst
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alderfer
authors.forename: Olle Jane Z
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Sahler
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Askins
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fairclough
authors.forename: Ernest R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dolgin
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Noll
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D015406:Single Parent / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*