WHEN MOM OR DAD HAS CANCER .2. COPING, COGNITIVE APPRAISALS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN CHILDREN OF CANCER-PATIENTS

Cognitive appraisals and coping were examined in children, adolescents , and young adults (N = 134) faced with the diagnosis of cancer in a p arent. All 3 age groups perceived low personal control and high extern al control over their parent's illness and used relatively little prob lem-focused coping. Adolescents and young adults reported more emotion -focused coping and dual-focused coping (both problem- and emotion-foc used in intent) than did preadolescent children. Stage and prognosis o f parent's cancer were related to appraisals of greater seriousness an d stressfulness, and to more avoidance; however, only appraisals of st ress were related to symptoms of anxiety-depression. Emotion-focused c oping was related to greater avoidance and to higher symptoms of anxie ty-depression; coping and control beliefs did not interact in their as sociation with anxiety-depression symptoms.