Posttraumatic Growth Characteristics and Distress in Mothers of Children with Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand distress and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in mothers of children with cancer. METHODS: The data were collected through self-reported questionnaires completed by 222 mothers of children with cancer who had visited the hospital between 9th August and 17th September 2013. RESULTS: The results showed high distress both currently and at diagnosis in the majority of respondents. Analysis of the effects of general characteristics on PTG revealed that religious respondents, or those with considerable religious influence, had higher PTG. PTG was also higher in participants with 2 or more children, and for whom the patient was the second-born or later. There were no significant differences in PTG according to either the mother's characteristics (age, level of education, employment status, and burden of medical care costs) or the patient's characteristics (age, gender, birth order, diagnosis, duration of disease, and recurrence). CONCLUSION: The results of this study allowed a balanced observation of both positive and negative psychological states, such as distress and PTG, in mothers of children with cancer. These study findings may be useful foundation data for development of interventions to promote PTG.