The Relation of Caregiver Demand to Adjustment Outcomes in Children With Cancer: The Moderating Role of Parenting Stress

Abstract

This study investigated the relation of caregiver demand (CD) and parenting stress (PS) to child adjustment in a pediatric cancer sample. Mothers of children with cancer completed measures of PS and CD and rated their child's emotional, behavioral, and social adjustment. PS emerged as an independent predictor of the child's emotional, behavioral, and social adjustment; and moderated the relation between CD and child internalizing problems (IP). Contrary to expectations, children evidenced fewer IP under conditions of high CD and low PS, and more IP under conditions of low CD and low PS.