Self-distancing Buffers High Trait Anxious Pediatric Cancer Caregivers against Short- and Longer-term Distress.
Pediatric cancer caregivers are typically present at their child's frequent, invasive treatments, and such treatments elicit substantial distress. Yet, variability exists in how even the most anxious caregivers cope. Here we examined one potential source of this variability: caregivers' tendencies to self-distance when reflecting on their feelings surrounding their child's treatments. We measured caregivers' self-distancing and trait anxiety at baseline, anticipatory anxiety during their child's treatment procedures, and psychological distress and avoidance three months later. Self-distancing buffered high (but not low) trait anxious caregivers against short- and long-term distress without promoting avoidance. These findings held when controlling for other buffers, highlighting the unique benefits of self-distancing. These results identify a coping process that buffers vulnerable caregivers against a chronic life stressor while also demonstrating the ecological validly of laboratory research on self-distancing. Future research is needed to explicate causality and the cognitive and physiological processes that mediate these results.
Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, Michigan.
Louis A
LA
Penner
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Darwin A
DA
Guevarra
Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, Michigan.
Felicity W K
FW
Harper
Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan.
Jeffrey
J
Taub
Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis Tennessee.
Sean
S
Phipps
Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, Michigan.
Terrance L
TL
Albrecht
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Ethan
E
Kross
anticipatory anxiety; pediatric cancer; psychological distress; self-distancing; vulnerable caregivers