Factors Affecting Outcomes Following a Psychosocial Intervention for Children When a Parent Has Cancer

Abstract

This study evaluated predictors of child psychosocial outcomes following their participation in an intervention for families experiencing parental cancer. A secondary analysis was conducted using a data set of a multi-year sample of survey results collected between 2009 – 2015. Families (N = 165) included had a parent diagnosed with cancer whose children participated in a six-week curriculum-based intervention. Parents completed questionnaires that included demographic information and a nine-item assessment of changes in children’s behavioral issues. Improvement in communication about the illness post intervention was associated with improved sleep, feelings of security, and reduced anxiety. Families reporting financial difficulty were significantly more likely to report presence of children’s issues related to sleep, eating issues, feeling insecure at home, anxiety, and difficulty with the parent-child relationship. Results suggest variables such as child’s ability to communicate about the illness and time since parent’s diagnosis affect outcomes. Future research should explore and target variables found to impact intervention outcomes.