Characterizing Lone Parenting: A Multi-institutional Pilot Study of the Perceptions of Support and Perceived Stress of Lone Parents of Children With Cancer
Condition: Cancer
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This study will describe the perceptions of support and distress outcomes of single/lone
      parents of a child with cancer.

      Background:

        -  Parents and families of children with chronic illnesses have stressors, including
           financial stress, role strains, separations, and interruptions in daily routines and
           plans for the future. All of these experiences may lead directly and indirectly to
           parental stress.

        -  The number of families headed by single or lone parents is increasing. Little work has
           been done to better understand if the needs of parents who are providing care for a
           child on their own differ from parents who do not classify themselves as lone.
           Identifying parents who may need additional support within a pediatric oncology setting
           is very important so that appropriate support is provided.

      Objectives:

      - To better understand the social, emotional, and practical effects of lone parents on
      children with cancer.

      Eligibility:

        -  All parents whose child has been diagnosed with cancer between 6 and 18 months before
           enrolling on the study.

        -  Participants must be able to speak and read English

      Design:

        -  Parents will be asked to complete a questionnaire during one of their child s clinic or
           hospital visits.

        -  The questionnaire will ask about the parenting experience since the child was diagnosed
           with cancer. It will ask about the support the parent has received from family and
           friends since the diagnosis.

        -  The questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background:

        -  Research examining the potential impact of childhood chronic illness on parents and
           families has delineated a myriad of stressors that parents may experience, including
           financial stress, role strains, separations, interruptions in daily routines and plans
           for the future, and general uncertainty regarding the child s prognosis.

        -  All of these possible experiences may lead directly and indirectly to anxiety,
           depression, posttraumatic-stress, hopelessness, and feelings of loss of control in
           parents and families.

        -  The number of families headed by single, or lone parents has increased significantly,
           with 3 in 10 children now living in single parent homes.

        -  It is not known whether distress is greater for parents who are lone parents.

        -  Lone-parent families earn on average only 55% of what married-parent families earn, and
           are four times more likely to live in poverty.

        -  It is unclear how lone parents trying to navigate the complex needs of maintaining a
           home, family, and a chronically ill child adapt to these challenges.

        -  It is also unclear how many parents who check single on a standardized forced choice
           questionnaire format consider themselves to be lone when it comes to the experience of
           caring for their child with cancer.

      Objective:

      <TAB>

        -  Aim 1: To define and characterize lone parents

        -  Aim 2: To describe perceptions of social support and how they relate to lone and
           non-lone parenting

        -  Aim 3: To identify distress outcomes in parents of children with cancer who identify
           themselves as being lone when it comes to the experience of caring for a child with
           cancer

      Study Population:

      English and Spanish speaking parents of a child (1through 17 years) with a malignancy,
      diagnosed 6-18 months before recruitment will be invited to participate in this study.

      Design:

      -This is a pilot, exploratory study designed to describe the perceptions of support and
      distress outcomes of single/lone parents of a child with cancer. Participants will be
      administered a Lone Parent Support Questionnaire designed for this study. The study will be
      completed in one visit (<30mins).
    

Time perspective: Prospective
Keywords: Cancer; Psychosocial Stress; Parenting