Ayako Hiyoshi1, Scott Montgomery1,2,3, Matteo Bottai4, Emma I Hovén5. 1. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. 2. Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Sweden. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 4. Unit of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. 5. Division of Childhood Cancer Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The contribution of different income sources from work and social benefits to trajectories of income for the parents of children with cancer has not been empirically investigated. METHODS: Using Swedish registers, parents of children with an incidence cancer diagnosis between 2004 and 2009 were identified and matched with parents of children without cancer (reference parents). A total of 20,091 families were followed from the year before the diagnosis to a maximum of 8 years. Generalized linear models estimated the ratios of mean incomes from work and social benefits and of its total. RESULTS: Around the time of the child's cancer diagnosis, the total income was on average up to 6% higher among the mothers of children with cancer compared with reference mothers, but no differences were noted among fathers. Income from work dropped to the lowest level around the time of a cancer diagnosis, with swift recovery noted for fathers but not for mothers. Sickness and childcare-related benefits were up to 6 times larger for the parents of children with cancer than reference parents. As social benefits diminished after approximately 3 years, the total income of mothers of children with cancer became lower than that of reference mothers, and the gap widened over time. CONCLUSIONS: Social benefits appeared to ease the financial burden during the years around a cancer diagnosis. However, mothers experienced persistently lower income after benefits diminished. Experiences differed by single-parent versus dual-parent households, the survival of the child with cancer, and other relevant characteristics. Further investigation is needed for potential long-term consequences for mothers, including their career and future pension in retirement. Cancer 2018;124:1492-500.
BACKGROUND: The contribution of different income sources from work and social benefits to trajectories of income for the parents of children with cancer has not been empirically investigated. METHODS: Using Swedish registers, parents of children with an incidence cancer diagnosis between 2004 and 2009 were identified and matched with parents of children without cancer (reference parents). A total of 20,091 families were followed from the year before the diagnosis to a maximum of 8 years. Generalized linear models estimated the ratios of mean incomes from work and social benefits and of its total. RESULTS: Around the time of the child's cancer diagnosis, the total income was on average up to 6% higher among the mothers of children with cancer compared with reference mothers, but no differences were noted among fathers. Income from work dropped to the lowest level around the time of a cancer diagnosis, with swift recovery noted for fathers but not for mothers. Sickness and childcare-related benefits were up to 6 times larger for the parents of children with cancer than reference parents. As social benefits diminished after approximately 3 years, the total income of mothers of children with cancer became lower than that of reference mothers, and the gap widened over time. CONCLUSIONS: Social benefits appeared to ease the financial burden during the years around a cancer diagnosis. However, mothers experienced persistently lower income after benefits diminished. Experiences differed by single-parent versus dual-parent households, the survival of the child with cancer, and other relevant characteristics. Further investigation is needed for potential long-term consequences for mothers, including their career and future pension in retirement. Cancer 2018;124:1492-500.
Authors: Daniel J Zheng; Derek Shyr; Clement Ma; Anna C Muriel; Joanne Wolfe; Kira Bona Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Ellen van der Plas; T Leigh Spencer Noakes; Darci T Butcher; Rosanna Weksberg; Laura Galin-Corini; Elizabeth A Wanstall; Patrick Te; Laura Hopf; Sharon Guger; Johann Hitzler; Russell J Schachar; Shinya Ito; Brian J Nieman Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2020-11-17 Impact factor: 3.953