Treating Persistent Distress and Anxiety in Parents of Children With Cancer: An Initial Feasibility Trial
Abstract
Persistent anxiety is common among parents of children with cancer and may affect the family's well-being and adjustment. The goals of this pilot study are to determine the feasibility and potential efficacy of a brief cognitive-behavioral parent intervention aimed at reducing parental distress and anxiety related to their child's cancer diagnosis. Parents of children with cancer, at least 1 month postdiagnosis, were screened at an outpatient oncology clinic, and those reporting elevated levels of distress were offered a 4-session cognitive-behavioral intervention based on a modified version of the Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program-Newly Diagnosed. Five parents reporting persistent distress received the intervention. Results revealed decreases in parents' distress, state anxiety, and depressive symptoms, as well as in parents' feelings of burden associated with their children's cancer. This initial study suggests that identification of parents with prolonged heightened psychological distress is feasible and acceptable and that offering them a brief intervention within a pediatric oncology setting may be beneficial.
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Brief, parent-focused interventions have been shown to increase parental confidence and self-efficacy.
“In a range of settings, brief, parent-focused interventions have been shown to reduce parental stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, increase parental confidence and self-efficacy, and reinforce positive parenting behaviors (Bloomfield and Kendall, 2012, Bodenmann et al., 2008, Warner et al., 2011, Zand et al., 2018).”
From Brief Transdiagnostic Intervention for Parents With Emotional Disorder Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Example (2021) · cites this paper as Warner et al., 2011
Brief, parent-focused interventions have been shown to reinforce positive parenting behaviors.
“In a range of settings, brief, parent-focused interventions have been shown to reduce parental stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, increase parental confidence and self-efficacy, and reinforce positive parenting behaviors (Bloomfield and Kendall, 2012, Bodenmann et al., 2008, Warner et al., 2011, Zand et al., 2018).”
From Brief Transdiagnostic Intervention for Parents With Emotional Disorder Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Example (2021) · cites this paper as Warner et al., 2011
Brief, parent-focused interventions have been shown to reduce parental stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
“In a range of settings, brief, parent-focused interventions have been shown to reduce parental stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, increase parental confidence and self-efficacy, and reinforce positive parenting behaviors (Bloomfield and Kendall, 2012, Bodenmann et al., 2008, Warner et al., 2011, Zand et al., 2018).”
From Brief Transdiagnostic Intervention for Parents With Emotional Disorder Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Example (2021) · cites this paper as Warner et al., 2011
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Information till föräldrar som har barn med cancer
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Parenting a Child with a Chronic Health Condition: Examining Caregivers’ Health Outcomes
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- Authors
- Warner, C. M., Ludwig, K., Sweeney, C., Spillane, C., Hogan, L., Ryan, J., & Carroll, W.
- Affiliations
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (US)
- NYU Langone Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Warner, Carrie Masia
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-06-06
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 224-230
- ISSN
- 0748-1802 (ISSN-L)
- 1043-4542
- 1532-8457
- OpenAlex
- W2090753173
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 4.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Society of Hematology
- West Virginia University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- parental anxiety, parental distress, childhood cancer, cognitive-behavioral intervention, brief psychotherapy, caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, state anxiety, family adjustment, pediatric oncology, feasibility
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Anxiety, Child, Child, Preschool, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Neoplasms, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Pilot Projects, Stress, Psychological, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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