Simone J Darling1, Stephen J C Hearps1, Frank Muscara1, Maria McCarthy1,2, Jan M Nicholson3, Kylie Burke4, Anica Dimovski1, Vicki Anderson1,5,6. 1. Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 2. Children's Cancer Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 3. Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 4. Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia. 5. Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 6. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Explore the mental health trajectories of parents following their child's life-threatening illness/injury. METHODS: Participants were 217 parents (mean age: 34.9-40.0; 66 fathers) of 165 children who presented to a tertiary hospital with a life-threatening illness/injury. Parents completed questionnaires about their mental health and psychosocial stressors within 4 weeks of the child's illness/injury (T1), and 4 months (T2), 7 months (T3), and 19 months (T4) postdiagnosis. RESULTS: For both mothers and fathers, mental health symptoms were elevated at diagnosis declining to normal levels by T3, with a pattern of increase at T4. Fathers demonstrated a faster decline in symptoms between T1 and T2, and fathers, but not mothers, experienced a relapse in depressive symptoms at T4. Fathers reported higher rates of work changes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important implications for the design and timing of parental interventions to support families of children with life-threatening disease/injury.
OBJECTIVE: Explore the mental health trajectories of parents following their child's life-threatening illness/injury. METHODS:Participants were 217 parents (mean age: 34.9-40.0; 66 fathers) of 165 children who presented to a tertiary hospital with a life-threatening illness/injury. Parents completed questionnaires about their mental health and psychosocial stressors within 4 weeks of the child's illness/injury (T1), and 4 months (T2), 7 months (T3), and 19 months (T4) postdiagnosis. RESULTS: For both mothers and fathers, mental health symptoms were elevated at diagnosis declining to normal levels by T3, with a pattern of increase at T4. Fathers demonstrated a faster decline in symptoms between T1 and T2, and fathers, but not mothers, experienced a relapse in depressive symptoms at T4. Fathers reported higher rates of work changes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have important implications for the design and timing of parental interventions to support families of children with life-threatening disease/injury.
Authors: Cynthia Ewell Foster; Christina Magness; Ewa Czyz; Eskira Kahsay; Jonathan Martindale; Victor Hong; Elaina Baker; Isabella Cavataio; Gigi Colombini; John Kettley; Patricia K Smith; Cheryl King Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2021-06-16