GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PARENTING A CHILD WITH CANCER

This study of 124 parents of children diagnosed with cancer investigat es parents' perceptions of their role in the illness situation. The st udy found that mothers and fathers differ in their experience of and r esponse to parenting a child with cancer. These differences appear to reflect traditional parenting roles characterized by a gender-based di vision of labor. Sex-role socialization theory is discussed as an expl anatory model of the parenting experience. Practice recommendations ar e offered to medical social workers and other health care professional s concerned about the long term psychosocial adjustment of parents wit h chronically ill children.