Effects of communication styles on marital satisfaction and distress of parents of pediatric cancer patients: a prospective longitudinal study.

The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal effects of communication styles on marital satisfaction and distress of parents of children treated for cancer. Marital dissatisfaction (Maudsley Marital Questionnaire), intimacy, avoidance, destructive and incongruent communication (Communication Skills Inventory) and psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire) were assessed in 115 parents of pediatric cancer patients shortly after diagnosis (T1) and 5 years later (T2). Only mothers' marital dissatisfaction increased significantly over time. No gender differences in dissatisfaction were found. Mothers had a significantly higher lack of intimacy score than fathers. All T1 communication styles were significantly univariately related to fathers' and mothers' T2 marital dissatisfaction, while not to T2 distress. Mothers' T1 marital dissatisfaction accounted for 67% and fathers' for 12% in the explained variance of T2 dissatisfaction. T1 destructive communication uniquely affected fathers' T2 marital dissatisfaction and T1 avoidant communication that of mothers. Five years after cancer diagnosis in their children, the quality of parents' marital relationships seemed largely unchanged. Parents' use of communication skills at diagnosis appeared to have limited effect on their marital dissatisfaction and no effect on their distress 5 years later. While avoidant communication seemed indicative of mothers' marital distress, fathers' seemed affected by destructive communication.

Wijnberg-Williams BJ ，Van de Wiel HB ，Kamps W ，Hoekstra-Weebers JE ... -  《-》

Risk factors for psychological maladjustment of parents of children with cancer.

Hoekstra-Weebers JE ，Jaspers JP ，Kamps WA ，Klip EC ... -  《JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY》

Coping and its effect on psychological distress of parents of pediatric cancer patients: a longitudinal prospective study.

This prospective 5-year longitudinal study examined the use of coping styles of fathers and mothers of pediatric cancer patients over time and the prospective effects of coping on distress. Psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire) and the use of seven coping styles (Utrecht Coping List: active problem focussing, palliative and passive reaction patterns, avoidance, social support seeking, expression of emotions, and comforting cognition) were assessed in 115 parents shortly after diagnosis, 6 and 12 months, and 5 years later. At diagnosis, parents' use of coping styles did not differ from the norm population except more frequent use of support seeking. No significant change over time was found in a palliative reaction pattern. Support seeking declined and emotional expression increased linearly, whereas use of the remaining coping styles decreased, followed by an increase. At 5 years, parents' use differed from the norm population only in less use of expression of emotions and comforting cognitions. Initial coping use significantly predicted fathers' future distress at 6 and 12 months but not at 5 years. This was not found for mothers. Changes in coping were significantly associated with both parents' changes in distress only during the first year. Increased passive reaction pattern and social support seeking were the risk factors for mothers. Increased avoidance, a passive reaction pattern, expression of emotions, and decreased active problem focussing formed the risk factors for fathers. Findings illustrate that coping seems to be a situation-specific process and that coping predictors vary as a function of parents' gender.

Hoekstra-Weebers JE ，Wijnberg-Williams BJ ，Jaspers JP ，Kamps WA ，van de Wiel HB ... -  《-》

Psychological distress and the impact of social support on fathers and mothers of pediatric cancer patients: long-term prospective results.

Wijnberg-Williams BJ ，Kamps WA ，Klip EC ，Hoekstra-Weebers JE ... -  《-》

Parents of children with cancer: a longitudinal study of emotional distress, coping style, and marital adjustment two and twenty months after diagnosis.

Dahlquist LM ，Czyzewski DI ，Jones CL 《-》