Physical symptoms and psychological responses of the parents of a child with oncological disease The purpose of this research was to deepen the knowledge on the psychological distress of parents of children with oncological diseases. The aim of this study was to identify which areas are the most affected by suffering, check the progress of the parents’ suffering during the course of illness and to assess the role of gender differences in mothers and fathers in psychological reactions. Thirty-nine parents (23 mothers, 16 fathers) of children diagnosed with cancer were recruited. They were asked to complete the Italian version of the Symptom Questionnaire (Kellner, 1976). The SQ is a 92 item yes/no questionnaire with four subscales: Depression, Anxiety, Anger-Hostility, and Somatic Symptoms. Participants filled out the questionnaire in three different phases of their child’s disease: diagnosis (T1), one month after (T2), and three months after (T3). Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease of suffering over time, especially in the Anxiety Scale (highest scores at T1). Gender differences (mothers vs. fathers) were found. Mothers had higher scores than fathers, but only after the hospital discharge. Overall, results showed a gradual decrease in the levels of distress of parents from T1 to T3. In regard to gender differences, there were no significant differences during the first phases of the illness, but an increase was found in somatic symptoms in mothers, after their child was discharged from the hospital. This study has highlighted the need to provide an adequate and non-stop psychological support; not only for the pediatric patient but also for his/her caregivers.

La ricerca nasce da un interesse verso la sofferenza psicologica di genitori di bambini con malattia oncologica. Lo scopo era di evidenziare le aree di disagio più presenti, verificare l’andamento della sofferenza dei genitori durante il percorso di malattia e quale ruolo assumano le differenze di genere, tra madri e padri, nelle risposte psicologiche. Il campione era costituito da 39 genitori (23 madri; 16 padri) di bambini con diagnosi oncologica. Lo strumento utilizzato è stato il Symptom Questionnaire, SQ (Kellner 1976), questionario self-report composto da 4 scale (depressione, ansia, somatizzazione, ostilità), compilato dai partecipanti in tre fasi del periodo di malattia del bambino: alla diagnosi, dopo 1 mese dalla diagnosi e dopo 3 mesi. Le analisi statistiche hanno evidenziato un decremento significativo, nel tempo, nella sottoscala ansia, che al momento della diagnosi indicava il punteggio più elevato. Le differenze tra madri e padri sul grado di sofferenza mostrato (valori più alti nelle madri), risultano significative solo dopo le dimissioni dall’ospedale. È stato possibile documentare, quindi, la presenza di un elevato livello di sofferenza nel genitore al momento della diagnosi e una graduale riduzione di tale sofferenza nel tempo. Le differenze di genere, non risultano significative nelle prime fasi di malattia, ma si riscontra un aumento di sintomi somatici nelle madri dopo le dimissioni del bambino. Lo studio ha evidenziato la necessità di fornire un assiduo e adeguato supporto psicologico rivolto, non solo al paziente pediatrico ma, anche, alle figure di attaccamento.

Dorella Scarponi, P.L.G. (2017). Sintomatologia e risposte psicologiche dei genitori di fronte alla malattia del figlio. PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE, 3(3), 115-133 [10.3280/PDS2017-003006].

Sintomatologia e risposte psicologiche dei genitori di fronte alla malattia del figlio

Dorella Scarponi
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Pier Luigi Garotti
Writing – Review & Editing
;
2017

Abstract

Physical symptoms and psychological responses of the parents of a child with oncological disease The purpose of this research was to deepen the knowledge on the psychological distress of parents of children with oncological diseases. The aim of this study was to identify which areas are the most affected by suffering, check the progress of the parents’ suffering during the course of illness and to assess the role of gender differences in mothers and fathers in psychological reactions. Thirty-nine parents (23 mothers, 16 fathers) of children diagnosed with cancer were recruited. They were asked to complete the Italian version of the Symptom Questionnaire (Kellner, 1976). The SQ is a 92 item yes/no questionnaire with four subscales: Depression, Anxiety, Anger-Hostility, and Somatic Symptoms. Participants filled out the questionnaire in three different phases of their child’s disease: diagnosis (T1), one month after (T2), and three months after (T3). Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease of suffering over time, especially in the Anxiety Scale (highest scores at T1). Gender differences (mothers vs. fathers) were found. Mothers had higher scores than fathers, but only after the hospital discharge. Overall, results showed a gradual decrease in the levels of distress of parents from T1 to T3. In regard to gender differences, there were no significant differences during the first phases of the illness, but an increase was found in somatic symptoms in mothers, after their child was discharged from the hospital. This study has highlighted the need to provide an adequate and non-stop psychological support; not only for the pediatric patient but also for his/her caregivers.
2017
Dorella Scarponi, P.L.G. (2017). Sintomatologia e risposte psicologiche dei genitori di fronte alla malattia del figlio. PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE, 3(3), 115-133 [10.3280/PDS2017-003006].
Dorella Scarponi, Pier Luigi Garotti, Elisa Marconi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/628391
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