MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH LEUKEMIA - SELF-REPORTED AND OBSERVED DISTRESS AND COPING DURING PAINFUL PEDIATRIC PROCEDURES

Self-reported maternal coping, self-rated maternal distress, and obser ved distress and coping behaviors were assessed during lumbar puncture s (LP) with families of 45 patients with leukemia. Mothers' subscale m eans for Ways of Coping Scale (WCS) were significantly higher for 4 of 8 dimensions in this sample than for a stressed community sample. Mot hers displayed almost no overt distress, but reported moderate distres s both before and after the procedure. Planful problem-solving and sel f-controlling coping strategies showed correlations of moderate magnit ude with observed maternal coping. In regression analyses, mothers' ob served distress and coping were most strongly related to patient age a nd patients' observed distress and coping. Findings are discussed in t erms of identifying mothers at risk for greater distress and the diffi culties in coping with procedures throughout childhood leukemia treatm ent.