Swedish mothers and fathers of a child diagnosed with cancer--a look at their quality of life

Acta Oncol. 2004;43(5):474-9. doi: 10.1080/02841860410029348.

Abstract

Quality of life was investigated among Swedish mothers (n = 118) and fathers (n = 83) of children on (n = 57) and off (n = 68) cancer treatment. Parents completed the Göteborg Quality of Life Instrument, measuring (a) burden of 30 symptoms organized as follows: depression, tension, head, heart-lung, metabolic, musculo-skeletal, and gastrointestinal-urinary symptoms, and (b) experience of well-being with regard to 18 items organized as follows: physical, social, and mental well-being. Fathers reported higher mental well-being than mothers and more mothers than fathers reported symptoms of depression. Within the same family (n = 70), mothers reported lower mental well-being and more symptoms than fathers. Parents of children on treatment (n = 92) reported lower social and mental well-being and more symptoms of depression than parents with children off treatment (n = 101). The findings suggest that fathers experience a better quality of life than mothers and that parents of children off treatment enjoy a better quality of life than parents of children on treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Parents*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sweden