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Pediatric Transplants

Differences in mothers’ and fathers’ psychological distress after pediatric SCT: a longitudinal study

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 47, pages 934–939 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinally psychological distress and its correlates in mothers and fathers of children who undergo SCT, up to 2 years post SCT. A total of 111 parents of patients diagnosed mainly with leukemia completed standardized measures of depression and anxiety symptoms as indicators of psychological distress, 85 at 1 year pre-SCT and 81 at 2 years post SCT. Parents’ age and gender, child's age, diagnosis, radiation history, behavior and physical health were examined as potential related factors. Linear mixed models for repeated measures with appropriate covariance structure were used in the analysis. Depression and anxiety scores significantly decreased by 2 years for mothers and fathers. Mothers reported significantly more depression symptoms than did fathers, but reported comparable symptoms of anxiety. Pre-SCT depression and anxiety scores, mother's age (younger), child's behavior problems, radiation history and diagnosis of neuroblastoma predicted maternal distress 2 years post SCT; pre-SCT depression and anxiety scores, father's age (older) and child's diagnosis predicted father's distress. This study highlights differences and similarities in mothers’ and fathers’ psychological distress and identifies related risk factors. The results can guide interventions for mothers and fathers whose children undergo SCT based on their pre-SCT psychosocial risk.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Karen Sumbler, Tara Smith and Gail Andrews for their help in collecting data for this study, and Jennifer Pinto for her assistance in preparation of the manuscript. This research was supported by grants from the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, New Initiatives; Elizabeth Lue Bone Marrow Foundation; and the National Cancer Institute of Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    M Barrera & K Hancock

  2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    M Barrera

  3. Department of Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    M Barrera & E Atenafu

  4. Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    J Doyle

  5. Department of Social Work, Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, Neuro-Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    D Berlin-Romalis

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  1. M Barrera
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  2. E Atenafu
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  4. D Berlin-Romalis
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  5. K Hancock
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Correspondence to M Barrera.

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Barrera, M., Atenafu, E., Doyle, J. et al. Differences in mothers’ and fathers’ psychological distress after pediatric SCT: a longitudinal study. Bone Marrow Transplant 47, 934–939 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2011.206

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