Anxiety in families of children with cancer

Introduction: Diagnosis of cancer in a child affects the emotional functioning of the whole family. The most recognized emotion in families is anxiety. The first aim of the study was to analyze how the diagnosis and treatment of a child’s cancer impacts the anxiety among family members and the second aim was to develop a plan of the basic psychological care for the family of a sick child.

Material and methods: The study consisted of 155 families of patients; 341 persons completed questionnaires (81 patients, 137 mothers, 77 fathers, 46 siblings). The study was based on questionnaires concerning the socio-economic data, the situation of child’s illness and treatment, and the psychosocial functioning of the family. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in the version for adults and children was used to assess anxiety.

Results: Parents presented the highest intensity of anxiety. Results of children and siblings were within the norm for their age groups. Correlation of individuals’ results allowed two family subsystems, having a similar intensity of anxiety, to be distinguished: marital and parents–ill child. Healthy siblings present a different emotional reaction. The stage of the treatment had an impact on the intensity of anxiety among mothers only. The most fear-generating periods were the beginning and the completion of intensive treatment. Parents’ anxiety depended on factors related to the child’s illness, while patients and healthy children’s anxiety depended on family functioning.

Conclusions: The authors also emphasize that psychological care should be provided to the whole family of the ill child.