title: Maternal Coping and Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Mother-Child Communication About a Child's Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to identify possible associations between maternal coping and depression and subsequent mother-child communication about cancer following the child's diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers (N = 100) reported on coping and depressive symptoms shortly after the child's diagnosis (M = 1.9 months). Subsequently, we observed children (age 5-17 years; M = 10.2 years; 48% female; 81% White) and mothers discussing cancer and coded maternal communication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher primary and secondary control coping, and lower depressive symptoms, were generally correlated with more positive, and less harsh and withdrawn communication. In regression models, higher primary control coping (i.e., coping efforts to change the stressor or one's emotional reaction to the stressor) independently predicted less withdrawn communication, and depressive symptoms mediated relations between coping and harsh communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal primary control coping and depressive symptoms predict mothers' subsequent harsh and withdrawn communication about cancer.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, erodriguez@austin.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Lexa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vannatta
authors.affiliation: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.affiliation: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Tammi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Young-Saleme
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saylor
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bemis
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Leandra
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Madeleine J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Compas
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior
keywords: cancer; coping; depression; mother–child communication