When Your Child Has Cancer: A Path-Analysis Model to Show the Relationships between Flourishing and Health in Parents of Children with Cancer

Abstract

Background: Childhood cancer is a disease with a psychosocial impact on parents who experience health problems and distress. Their reactions depend on the relationship of multiple factors. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the interrelationships between flourishing and the variables linked to the health and wellbeing of parents of children with cancer. Methods: Mothers/fathers of children with cancer participated in an exploratory study in response to a series of questionnaires. Likert-type scales were used to measure perceived health, wellbeing, flourishing, stress, coping, and social support. Results: Out of a total of 94 children, 138 parents (60 men/78 women) are represented. Participants show physical symptoms and an unstable coping pattern. A path analysis model is presented. As to the goodness of adjustment of the statistics used, good results were obtained. Flourishing tends to coexist with wellbeing, while flourishing coexists negatively with symptoms. There is an indirect relationship between flourishing and poor health. There is a positive relationship between flourishing and coping, as well as between flourishing and satisfaction with the support received (especially from sons/daughters). This support was negatively related to the subjective health report. Conclusions: Flourishing is shown as a healthy coping strategy. The results can enrich the development of psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting adequate adaptation.