Parenting Changes of Mothers of a Child with Cancer

Abstract

Having a child with cancer affects the dyadic relationship between caregivers and the child. This study focused on changes in parenting and discipline among mothers after their child was diagnosed with cancer. We used semistructured interviews to explore 20 mothers’ experiences of parenting a child who had been diagnosed with cancer during the prior 5 years and before the age of 19 years in South Korea. Thematic analysis yielded five themes related to parenting changes: parental overprotection, increased parental permissiveness, use of threats to ensure compliance, concern for the child’s stress levels, and mothers’ confusion about optimal parenting. All mothers reported uncertainty and concern regarding how best to parent their sick child to ensure optimal health outcomes. The findings inform best practices for integrating medical and mental health care to support optimal maternal parenting and encourage optimal health outcomes for children with cancer.