Coping with stress by parents of pediatric cancer patients – case of task-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping strategies

Introduction: The cancer disease of child has a significant impact on psychosocial functioning of parents. Parents have its own unique coping style in difficult situations determined by the choice of coping strategies. Style and coping strategies of parents of child cancer patients interact on a person and their immediate environment. Parental dyad is a subsystem of a family and it is directly burdened by stressors associated with treatment process.

Material and methods: A group of 30 parental dyads (mother and father) of children diagnosed with cancer participated in the study. The study was conducted at the Department and Clinic of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation of the Medical University of Wrocław in the years 2010-2011. Time elapsed from diagnosis was one month. Methods used: Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the author’s questionnaire. This article is an attempt to compare the two groups of parent dyads: preferring task-oriented and avoidance-oriented approach.

Results: Parents preferring task-oriented approach displayed cohesion, adequate communication and seek social support and take advantage of it. Level of state and trait anxiety was at medium level. Parents preferring avoidance-oriented approach displayed stiffness of the system boundary, lack of communication and distraction. Level of state and trait anxiety was at low level.

Conclusions: Dyad families prefer task-oriented approach are less burdened by the stress of illness of a child due to the choice of coping strategies compared with parents prefer avoidance-oriented approach.