Parenting and Cancer: Mental Distress and Parenting Behavior in Parents with Cancer

Theoretical background: Every year, around 37,000 parents with underage children are diagnosed with cancer. This can lead to increased psychological distress (particularly anxiety and depression) and an increase in mental disorders in all family members. Research question: Parents with cancer display different psychological stress and parenting behavior than the general population and cancer patients in general. Method: N = 98 parents with cancer of 0 - 12-year-old children completed questionnaires regarding psychological well-being, stress, parenting behavior, and children's behavior. Results: Parents with cancer showed a lower quality of life and higher scores for anxiety, depression, and distress than the general population or cancer patients in general. Treatment status did not influence distress. Parents with cancer showed more indulgence in parenting behavior. Discussion and conclusion: Cancer in people caring for minor children appears to be a double burden that requires targeted support regarding both individual stress and parenting. Routine clinical practice, however, does not yet sufficiently identify affected families, who do not receive adequate support services.