Socialization of Coping in Pediatric Oncology Settings: Theoretical Consideration on Parent-Child Connections in Posttraumatic Growth.

Veronika Koutná,Marek Blatný

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.554325

Abstract

This theoretical article aims to summarize the results of studies relevant to parental influence on coping with childhood cancer and provide implications for future research focused on parent–child connections in posttraumatic growth (PTG) following childhood cancer. Parental influence on child coping described by the socialization of coping and socialization of emotions theories has already been studied in connection with posttraumatic stress, but the role of parents in the process of PTG in the child has not been clearly described yet. Several studies focused on PTG in childhood cancer survivors and their parents simultaneously, but only two studies explicitly included a parent–child connection in PTG in statistical analysis. Studies suggest that child PTG may be facilitated through parental coping advice supporting emotion expression and that parent–child connection in PTG may be mediated by the child’s subjective perception of the parents’ PTG. More research is needed to describe specific strategies proposed by parents and leading to child PTG and design tailored interventions for the use in the clinical care of childhood cancer survivors and their family.

Highlights

Pediatric cancer can be considered a traumatic experience potentially leading to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in childhood cancer survivors and their parents
More research is needed to describe specific strategies proposed by parents and leading to child posttraumatic growth (PTG) and design tailored interventions for the use in the clinical care of childhood cancer survivors and their family
Parental anxiety linked to child anxiety Parental PTSSs linked to child PTSSs Time since diagnosis moderated the associations between parental symptoms and child-reported anxiety and PTSSs: parent and child symptoms more strongly linked in families with longer time elapsed since diagnosis

Summary

Introduction

Pediatric cancer can be considered a traumatic experience potentially leading to posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in childhood cancer survivors and their parents. Results of studies assessing PTSSs/PTSD based on this classification suggested that the majority of survivors adapt well (Brown and Kupst, 2016), with the risk factors including central nervous system-related cancer diagnosis, female gender, reduced social support, and problematic family environment (for review, see Bruce, 2006). PTG has been connected with shorter time since diagnosis and treatment completion, older age at diagnosis, higher levels of perceived life threat, optimism, and social support (for review, see Turner et al, 2018). In addition to these factors associated with the characteristics of the child or the event, the child’s adjustment and ability to cope with adverse circumstances are related to family environment and parent–child relationship. Our knowledge is limited when it comes to the parents’ ability to foster PTG in their child and to the association between parental PTG and the child’s PTG

Methods

Results

Conclusion