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Raguindin PF, Rueegg CS, Kälin S, Bergstraesser E, von der Weid NX, Tinner EM, Kuehni CE, Michel G. Longitudinal changes of psychological distress among childhood cancer survivors: The Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024; 71:e31095. [PMID: 38825751 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.31095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood cancer survivors may experience psychological distress due to the disease, cancer treatments, and potential late effects. Limited knowledge exists regarding longitudinal changes in psychological distress after childhood cancer. We aimed to determine changes in psychological distress over time and explore determinants of changes. METHODS The Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study collected data at baseline (2007-2009) and follow-up (2010-2012). Psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), including three symptom scales (somatization, depression, anxiety) and an overall distress index (Global Severity Index, GSI). Sum-scores were T-standardized (mean = 50; standard deviation [SD] = 10). Survivors with a score ≥57 on the GSI or two symptom scales were classified as cases with distress. We used linear mixed effects regression to identify potential sociodemographic and clinical determinants of change in psychological distress. RESULTS We analyzed 696 survivors at baseline (mean age = 24 years [SD = 4], 49% females, mean time since diagnosis = 16 years [SD = 4]). On follow-up (2.4 years, SD = 1), 317 survivors were analyzed, including 302 participants with repeated measures. We found that 13% (39/302) were cases at baseline, and 25% (76/302) were cases on follow-up. Those older at study and longer since diagnosis, females, diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and those reporting late effects were more likely to experience higher levels of distress. Females and unemployed are at higher risk for developing or persisting psychological distress than males and those who are employed or in training. CONCLUSION We observed an increase in psychological distress score over time, with higher proportion of psychological distress on follow-up. Anticipatory guidance and screening should be implemented in regular follow-up care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Corina S Rueegg
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sonja Kälin
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Eva Bergstraesser
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Palliative Care, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Eva Maria Tinner
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia E Kuehni
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gisela Michel
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Nordström EEL, Kaltiala R, Kristensen P, Thimm JC. Somatic symptoms and insomnia among bereaved parents and siblings eight years after the Utøya terror attack. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2300585. [PMID: 38214224 PMCID: PMC10791101 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2300585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Levels of prolonged grief symptoms (PGS) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can be high, many years following bereavement after terror, but knowledge concerning somatic health is scarce. Terrorism is a serious public health challenge, and increased knowledge about long-term somatic symptoms and insomnia is essential for establishing follow-up interventions after terrorism bereavement.Objective: To study the prevalence of somatic symptoms and insomnia and their association with PGS, PTSS, and functional impairment among terrorism-bereaved parents and siblings.Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study included 122 bereaved individuals from the Utøya terror attack in Norway in 2011. The sample comprised 88 parents and 34 siblings aged 19 years and above (Mage = 49.7 years, SDage = 13.8 years, 59.8% females). The participants completed questionnaires 8 years after the attack assessing somatic symptoms (Children's Somatic Symptoms Inventory) and insomnia (Bergen Insomnia Scale) along with measures of PGS (Inventory of Complicated Grief), PTSS (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), and functional impairment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale).Results: Fatigue was the most frequently reported somatic symptom (88% of females and 65% of males). Females reported statistically significantly more somatic symptoms than males. In total, 68% of the bereaved individuals scored above the cut-off for insomnia. There were no statistically significant gender differences for insomnia. Female gender, intrusion, and arousal were associated with somatic symptoms. Intrusion and somatic symptoms were associated with insomnia. Somatic symptoms, avoidance, and hyperarousal were associated with functional impairment.Conclusion: Many bereaved parents and siblings report somatic symptoms and insomnia eight years after the terror attack. Somatic symptoms are associated with functional impairment. Long-term follow-up and support after traumatic bereavement should focus on somatic symptoms and insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Riittakerttu Kaltiala
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- Vanha Vaasa Hospital, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Pål Kristensen
- Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jens C. Thimm
- Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Søndergaard E, Reventlow S, Siersma V, Nicolaisdottir DR, Jepsen R, Rasmussen K, Møller A. A cross-sectional study of the association between family conflicts and children's health: Lolland-Falster Health Study. Child Care Health Dev 2023; 49:972-984. [PMID: 36805605 DOI: 10.1111/cch.13108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few family interaction processes are more detrimental to children's health than family conflicts. Conflictual relationships in childhood predict a host of adverse health outcomes across the life course. The current study examines associations between household conflicts and the health of children aged 6-12 years and explores to which extent this may vary by socioeconomic status (SES) and multimorbidity (MM) in the household. METHODS Cross-sectional study using questionnaire data gathered between 2016 and 2020 as part of the Lolland-Falster Health Study (LOFUS) combined with routine register data on health care use and socio-demography from the Danish nationwide administrative databases. The study sample consisted of 1065 children 6-12 years old, who answered LOFUS4 or LOFUS11, from 777 households for which at least one adult answered LOFUS18. Main outcome was children's health complaints, defined as headache, abdominal pain, back pain, and sleep difficulties. Covariates included MM, SES, and conflicts, all three measured at household level. Multivariable logistic regression models were used. RESULTS Conflicts were negatively associated with children's health. This was most pronounced for general conflicts in the household, with increased complaints of abdominal pain, back pain, and sleep difficulties. The associations varied when we stratified the households according to MM and SES. Significant associations were found within households without MM for abdominal pain, and within households with MM and low SES, and without MM and with high SES for sleep difficulties. While the higher level of abdominal pain for the above indicated households were found for both internal and external conflicts in the household, the higher level in sleep difficulties was mostly driven by internal conflicts. CONCLUSION Children reporting frequent health complaints have a higher future health care use compared with children without such complaints. Our results indicate that growing up in a household with a high conflict level might be a predisposing factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Søndergaard
- The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Reventlow
- The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Volkert Siersma
- The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dagny Ros Nicolaisdottir
- The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Randi Jepsen
- Lolland-Falster Health Study, Nykøbing F. Hospital, Nykøbing Falster, Denmark
| | | | - Anne Møller
- The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Koen LW, Ravensbergen SJ, Schoormans D, Hoogendijk WJG, Grootendorst-van Mil NH. The association between parental chronic physical illness and adolescent functional somatic symptoms. J Affect Disord 2023; 338:262-269. [PMID: 37308000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have found that adolescents with a chronically ill parent may experience more internalizing problems. It is less clear if this association is sex-related, and whether it is specific for functional somatic symptoms (FSSs) or concerns other internalizing or externalizing problems. METHODS In a prospective cohort of adolescents, oversampled on emotional and behavioral problems (n = 841; mean age 14.9 years), we examined the association between parental chronic illness and adolescent's FSSs, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Adolescent's internalizing and externalizing symptoms were measured using the Youth Self Report; parental chronic physical illness was reported during an interview. Associations were tested using linear regression analyses taking into account socio-demographic confounders. We also explored gender-interaction effects. RESULTS Having a chronically ill parent (n = 120; 14.3 %) was associated with more FSS in girls (B = 1.05, 95%CI = [0.23, 1.88], p = .013), but not in boys (sex-interaction: p = .013). In girls, an association was also found between parental chronic illness and more internalizing problems (B = 2.68, 95%CI = [0.41, 4.95], p = .021), but this association disappeared when FSSs were excluded from the Internalizing problem scores. LIMITATIONS The current study has a cross-sectional design and relied on self-reported parental chronic physical illness what may have induced misclassification. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that having a chronically ill parent is associated with more FSSs in adolescent girls and that this association is specific for FSSs instead of general internalizing problems. Girls with a chronically ill parent may profit from interventions to prevent the development of FSSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte W Koen
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susan J Ravensbergen
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dounya Schoormans
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, the Netherlands
| | - Witte J G Hoogendijk
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nina H Grootendorst-van Mil
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Epidemiological and Social Psychiatric Research Institute (ESPRi), Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Alexander ES, Halkett GKB, Lawrence BJ, O’Connor M. A Conceptual Model Depicting How Children Are Affected by Parental Cancer: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1507. [PMID: 37761468 PMCID: PMC10530185 DOI: 10.3390/children10091507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancer patients' children are vulnerable to psychosocial and behavioural issues. The mechanisms underlying how children are affected by their parent's diagnosis are unknown, warranting further research. This study investigated how children are affected by their parent's cancer diagnosis and provides a theoretical model conceptualising this experience. Informed by methods of grounded theory, embedded within a social constructivist framework, 38 informants (15 health professionals (HPs); 11 parents; 12 children (5 to 17 years)) were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Three themes were identified: (i) children were worried and distressed because they felt alone, (ii) parents were unable to tend to children's needs because they were overwhelmed by practical factors, and (iii) HPs were not detecting children due to barriers that affected their visibility in clinical settings. The proposed Alexander's Children's Cancer Communication (ACCC) Model and clinical recommendations made can be used to guide the clinical practice and development of future intervention research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise S. Alexander
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; (E.S.A.); (B.J.L.)
| | - Georgia K. B. Halkett
- Curtin School of Nursing/Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Blake J. Lawrence
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; (E.S.A.); (B.J.L.)
| | - Moira O’Connor
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Population Health/Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia;
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Hauskov Graungaard A, Hafting M, Davidsen AS, Lykke K. How is my child doing - parental understanding of their children when a parent has cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol 2021; 41:43-58. [PMID: 34961424 DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2021.2013386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
To explore the difficulties parents face when understanding their children's reactions to parental cancer and parents' reactions to their children's perceived needs. Qualitative interviews with cancer patients and their partners. Eleven patients and seven partners took part. Their children were aged 1-15 years. Eight patients were mothers and cancer was diagnosed median 28 (7-104) months ago. Inductive analysis with systematic text condensation. Parents were groping in the dark when understanding their children's reactions. They observed signs of distress in their children, but often avoided communication about emotional reactions. We suggest parental difficulties in containing own and children's emotions as an important cause for this situation. Parents lacked relevant support offers for the family as a unit. Identification of children's difficulties cannot be based on parental evaluation alone. We suggest family support as part of standard care for patients with minor children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anette Hauskov Graungaard
- Section and Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Annette Sofie Davidsen
- Section and Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirsten Lykke
- Section and Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Rodríguez L. An exploration of resilience in adolescents facing maternal cancer. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2020; 3:e1208. [PMID: 32672001 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research findings on the impact of parental cancer on adolescents are inconsistent, some studies identifying negative psychosocial impact but others identifying positive impact; however, there is not enough understanding on the underlying factors that may lead to differences in outcomes. Research has found that resilience has a role in adolescents' adaptation to maternal cancer; however, the nature of this requires further exploration. AIMS This analysis will help understand resilience in adolescents that experience maternal cancer by exploring the nature of resilience and the individual, family, and environmental risk and protective factors that determine resilience in adolescent lived experiences of maternal cancer that enable positive outcomes. METHODS This study is part of a larger investigation focused on understanding adolescent adjustment to maternal cancer and the psychosocial factors that promote adjustment. Original adolescent interview transcripts (n = 15) were subject to a secondary thematic analysis. RESULTS The analysis yielded four themes: the first theme, The Journey of Maternal Cancer, describes adolescent experiences of maternal cancer over time; the second theme is a detailed description of adolescent Protective Factors and how these supported the adolescents; the third theme describes the Risk Factors that adolescents faced; and the fourth theme summarizes the Positive Outcomes that adolescents self-identified. CONCLUSION This study found resilience as dynamic, as it changes over time. These changes are a result of the course of maternal illness and its treatment over time. Adolescents can adapt to change, but this capacity is shaped by protective factors and risk factors as well as challenges that are unique to having a mother diagnosed with cancer. Most adolescents managed to navigate successfully and identified positive outcomes from a difficult and life-changing experience. The study suggests the need to provide long-term supports for adolescents and carry out longitudinal research to further understand the trajectories of resilience in adolescents who experience maternal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonor Rodríguez
- UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
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