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Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on January 7, 2009
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsn140
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Brief Report: Problem Solving and Maternal Distress at the Time of a Child's Diagnosis of Cancer in Two-Parent Versus Lone-Parent Households

Emily A. Iobst, MS1, Melissa A. Alderfer, PhD2, Olle Jane Z. Sahler, MD3, Martha A. Askins, PhD4, Diane L. Fairclough, DrPH5, Ernest R. Katz, PhD6, Robert W. Butler, PhD7, Michael J. Dolgin, PhD8 and Robert B. Noll, PhD1

1Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3University of Rochester Medical Center, 4M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 5University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 6Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, 7Oregon Health and Science University and 8Schneider Children's Hospital

All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Robert B. Noll, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Child Development Unit, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. E-mail: robert.noll{at}chp.edu


  Abstract

Objective To examine negative affectivity and problem-solving abilities for lone mothers and those who are married/partnered subsequent to a child's diagnosis with cancer. Methods Negative affectivity and problem-solving strategies were assessed for 464 mothers (87 lone and 377 married/partnered) within 2–16 weeks of their child's diagnosis with cancer. Results The two groups of mothers did not differ significantly on measures of perceived posttraumatic stress or problem-solving; lone mothers reported significantly more symptoms of depression. This difference was no longer significant when maternal education was taken into account. Conclusions Negative affectivity and problem-solving abilities were similar for lone mothers and those that are married/partnered shortly after their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Findings are discussed within the context of contemporary strategies to assess marital status as proxy variable for various underlying constructs.

Key words: cancer; quality of life; parent stress.

Received August 20, 2008; revision received November 4, 2008; accepted December 8, 2008


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