Prevalence and Levels of Depression Among Parents of Children with Cancer in Basrah, Iraq

Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Parents of Children With Cancer in Ethiopia

Background: The severity of the psychological impact on parents of children with cancer, often depressive symptoms due to mild-to-severe stress, is well documented. The causes are primarily related to their child's cancer diagnosis and treatment, side effects, lack of social support, missing information about their child's disease, and understanding of how to care for their child during treatment. This study assessed predictors of depressive symptoms among parents of children with cancer in one hospital in Ethiopia. Method: The institution-based, cross-sectional design was employed. Parents (n = 126) whose child was admitted at Jimma University Medical Center between February 25 and April 25, 2020, and met inclusion criteria were invited to participate. Results: Questionnaires from 122 parents of children with cancer were included (four had missing data). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 60.7%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed gender (B = 1.207, p = .033) and higher levels of education (B = 1.019, p < .001) were associated with depressive symptoms in mothers. Receiving information about the child's treatment, however, was negatively associated with depressive symptoms (B = -1.490, p = .031). Monthly income and contact with religious leaders were not significant predictors. Discussion: Mothers of children hospitalized for initial cancer treatment in Jimma, Ethiopia, are at risk for depressive symptoms. It is possible that mothers with higher education are in occupations demanding their time, not allowing them to fulfill responsibilities felt to be essential in the child's treatment journey. Information on the child's treatment nurses have an important role in identifying depressive symptoms in parents but require training to do so.

Decisional conflict, caregiver mastery, and depression among Chinese parental caregivers of children with leukemia

BACKGROUND

Informal caregivers of children with leukemia can be emotionally and psychiatrically vulnerable when facing difficult treatment decisions (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, transplantation). A common behavioral manifestation of decisional conflict is the verbalized expression of uncertainty about which medical treatment plan to take. The study aims to examine the associations between decisional conflict, mastery, and depressive symptoms among parental caregivers of children with leukemia in China. It explored the mediating role of mastery in the relationship.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. A total of 386 parental caregivers were recruited, and 325 valid questionnaires remained. The mean age of caregivers was 37.7 years, and 61.5% caregivers were female. We used Question Format Decisional Conflict Scale to assess decisional conflict, Pearlin's Mastery Scale to assess mastery, and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression 10 to assess depressive symptoms. We used mediation analyses to test the mediating effect of mastery.

RESULTS

The total score of decisional conflict scale, along with its dimensions of uncertainty, support, and effective decision were found negatively associated with depressive symptoms. In contrast, the dimension of information and value were not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses demonstrated the direct effects of overall decisional conflict and uncertainly were fully mediated by mastery, while the direct effect of support and effective decision were partially mediated.

CONCLUSIONS

Efforts should be made to alleviate parental caregivers' decisional conflict and enhance sense of mastery. Particular attention should be paid to the psycho-social support to relieve uncertainties and ineffectiveness in decision making.

Systematic review on factors associated with depression among mothers of children with cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence of depression among mothers of children with cancer, there appears to be a lack of studies or concern regarding factors associated with depression among these mothers.

OBJECTIVE

To review the factors associated with depression among mothers of children with cancer.

METHOD

Pubmed, Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Psychology, and Behavioural Sciences Collection, and Academic Search Complete were searched according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify studies published between 2010 to 2022 on the associated risk factors of depression among mothers of children with cancer. The keywords used included mothers OR maternal' AND 'Child*' AND 'cancer OR tumo*r OR neoplasm' AND 'factors OR facilitators AND barriers OR predictors OR determinants AND 'depression'. Selected studies were evaluated by quality assessment.

RESULT

Five articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The factors associated with depression among mothers of children were socio-demographic risk factors (marital status, education level, annual income, child cancer diagnosis), and stress factors (caregiving stress, cancer-related stress, general stress). There were other factors associated with depression that act as mediators along the process which were emotion-focused coping and perceived social support.

CONCLUSION

Besides the commonly reported socio-demographic risk factors (marital status, education level, and annual income), other factors include stress factors (caregiving stress, cancer-related stress, and general stress). Furthermore, emotion-focused coping and perceived social support act as mediators along the process. More studies are warranted to explore depression among these mothers to ensure the most appropriate and effective preventive measures.

Depressive and Anxiety Disorders of Parents of Children with Cancer

Every year in Poland there are approximately 1200 new cases of malignant tumours in children and adolescents. Leukaemia, CNS tumours, and lymphomas are the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Coping with a child’s illness is challenging, which is why many parents suffer from anxiety, depression disorders, and even PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). The aim of this study is to assess the anxiety and depression levels of carers of children with cancer. Method: The study participants were 101 carers of children suffering from cancer. The study was conducted using standardized questionnaires: the Zung ccale, HADS scale, and Karnofsky scale, and three questionnaires designed by the author. Results: According to the results of the Karnofsky scale, carers’ anxiety and depression levels were negatively affected by their children’s poor performance. The younger age of children significantly correlated with the severity of depression in their parents. HADS and Zung scale anxiety levels were observed to have statistically significant effect on the severity of depressive disorders. Conclusions: Receiving a diagnosis of childhood cancer contributes to the incidence of depression and anxiety disorders among carers. Carers’ anxiety and depression levels were strongly associated with their child’s age and their child’s performance.

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasms in Children as a Factor Inducing Negative Emotions and Toxic Stress in Parents

Parents whose children suffer from cancer experience chronic negative emotions, which may have a detrimental influence on their mental health. The aim of this study, conducted with a group of parents whose children were hospitalized for leukemia or lymphoma, was to assess stress, anxiety, depression, aggression and stress coping strategies as well as the correlations that take place between them. The study was conducted with a group of 101 parents of early school children (aged between 7 and 12) who were hospitalized for cancer in three medical centers in southern Poland. The HADS -M, PSS-10 and COPE questionnaires were used in the study. Mothers were found to experience higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress as compared to fathers. It was more common for men to resort to the strategy of substance use. Socio-demographic variables did not determine the examined emotions, the level of stress and the choice of stress coping strategies, with the exception of the strategy of suppression of competing activities. A positive relationship was found between the incidence of negative emotions and the selected strategies of coping with stress. Early diagnosis of disorders and assessment of parents' strategies of coping might help to counteract long-term consequences of trauma.

Psycho-Education on Knowledge of Oral Hygiene and Psychological Distress to the Parents with Leukemia Children

Objective:

To analyze the effect of psycho-educational intervention on knowledge of oral hygiene and psychological distress to the parents of children suffering from leukemia.

Methods:

Design of this study was a quasi-experimental pre-posttest control group design. The sample were 70 mothers who had children with leukemia (intervention group = 35 mothers; control group = 35 mothers). The independent variable was psycho-educational, while the dependent variables were oral hygiene knowledge and psychological distress. The instruments used were the knowledge questionnaire and the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann Whitney U-test with the significance α =0.05.

Results:

The knowledge most widely known by parents was about how to perform of oral care (37.3%). All parameters of knowledge about oral hygiene have increased after being given a psycho-educational intervention. Psycho-educational interventions had an effect on reducing psychological distress; depression (p=0.000), anxiety (p=0.001) and stress (p=0.000).

Conclusion:

Most parents whose children suffer from cancer experience psychological distress in the form of depression, anxiety and stress with a range of symptoms ranging from mild to moderate. Psycho-educational interventions can increase knowledge about oral hygiene and decrease psychological distress in parents.

Depression and associated factors among parents of children diagnosed with cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. The period of child's diagnosis negatively influences parents socially and psychologically leading to depression.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of depression, its associated factors and parent's experience towards care of their cancer diagnosed child.

METHODS

A mixed approach quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional study was employed between 15 March and 1 April 2017. Systematic random sampling involving 275 participants in the quantitative and 20 conveniently selected participants for qualitative study were included in the study. Beck's depression inventory scale was used to collect data. Logistic regression including bivariate and multivariate analysis considering 95% confidence interval (CI) was utilized to examine association between dependent and independent variables. P-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression among parents was 72.4%, with depression levels of: borderline 7.3%, moderate 6.2%, severe 6.5%, and extreme severe depression 3.3%. Single parenting, income, history of depression, and support source were associated with parental depression (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 6.21; 95% CI: 2.66-14.52), (AOR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.02-0.86), (AOR = 8; 95% CI: 1.7-37.4), (AOR = 38; 95% CI: 2.6-560), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Family income, single parenting, and support sources are determinant factors for parental depression in this study. Nurses should early detect parents at risk and give due attention to reduce the risk of depression.