DISTRESS SYMPTOMS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS OF CHINESE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER

This study focused on the physiopsychological reactions to the stress of parents of children with cancer in China. Eighty-nine families who had a child with cancer were recruited into Sour groups: group A, the child was newly diagnosed with cancer, group B, the child was under tr eatment for cancer; group C, the child had relapsed and was not expect ed to live; and group D, the child with cancer had already died interv iews were conducted in Cantonese. The semistructured interviews were c onducted in the hospital or in the home. Specific questions were asked regarding colds, headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite, and weight l oss. The Parent Stress Rating Scale (PSRS) and the Parent's Support Sc ale (PSS) were administered. Results indicated that parents most often reported symptoms of loss of appetite, weight loss, and sleeping diff iculty, followed by headache, dizziness, and least of all, colds. Moth ers experienced more symptoms than fathers. Only in the newly diagnose d group and the under treatment group did the fathers report having ha d more colds than the mothers. Parents rated the child's death as havi ng caused the highest stress, followed by the terminal stage and the d iagnosis. Spouses received the highest rating for being supportive, ac ross all groups.