COPING STRATEGIES AND ADAPTATION TO CHILDHOOD CANCER OF PUERTO RICAN FAMILIES.
Contributors: University of Washington.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 233
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study examined the concerns, coping measures and adaptive results of families with a child with cancer. Interview data were collected from mothers, fathers and sick children in 27 families. The sample was obtained from three medical centers and one private hematology/oncology clinic in several metropolitan areas in Puerto Rico.

Families were mostly concerned with death issues and physical symptoms caused by the cancer and its treatment. Their coping strategies included the verbal and non-verbal expression of needs and feelings, prayer, and network mobilization.

Two family coping styles were identified: (a) denial and "illusions", and (b) partial denial and acute perception of the reality. Families who used denial and "illusions" as a coping strategy had a close religious support network. Families who were using partial denial had an attitude towards life that was oriented towards the present and they knew that leukemia is a mortal disease. These families had a broader support network. In both family-coping styles the adaptive results were similar. Most families reported feeling personally satisfied with their coping efforts. They also expressed feeling relieved and obtaining support from their network.

A concern with a relapse episode was significantly related to treatment compliance for the mothers. Also, mobilization of their network was significantly associated to receiving support for the mothers. For the children having a concern with death was significantly associated with giving and seeking information. No significant associations between concern and coping and coping and adaptation were found for the fathers.

These findings suggest that certain behaviors that are believed to be maladaptive in some societies are adaptive in others. The findings also suggest that certain social environments may influence the family coping strategies and their adaptation.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-12, Section: B, page: 3773.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, 1984.

School code: 0250.