The present study integrated and expanded upon two previously separate lines of research on stress and coping processes endemic to mothers faced with two significant sources of stress: mothers coping with a childâs cancer diagnosis and treatment within the context of sociodemographic disadvantage. Through the use of multiple interaction models, the goal of this study was to elucidate contextual and personal risk factors for psychological distress among mothers of children with cancer in order to effectively identify and assist families in need. Mothers of children with cancer (N = 209) completed measures of demographics, cancer-related stress, and secondary control coping both near the time of their childâs diagnosis (M = 2.04 months; time 1) and 12 months later (time 2). A cumulative sociodemographic disadvantage index was created to assess the cumulative impact of sociodemographic factors including single parenthood, income, and education. The interactive effects of these three variables on depressive symptoms were examined in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
At time 1, a three-way interaction emerged such that the greatest risk for depressive symptoms was associated with a combination of high sociodemographic disadvantage, high cancer-related stress, and low use of secondary control coping strategies. At time 2 there was no significant three-way interaction, however the moderating effect of coping persisted such that secondary control coping separately interacted with sociodemographic disadvantage and cancer-related stress to predict distress two-way interactions. In prospective analyses from time 1 to time 2, only significant main effects for mothersâ time 1 symptoms and secondary control coping were significant predictors of symptoms one year later.
This study highlights the importance of rigorously incorporating consideration of sociodemographic disadvantage into research among mothers facing a childâs cancer diagnosis and treatment. Further, results suggest that use of secondary control coping strategies serves as an effective buffer against the risk for psychological distress conferred by sociodemographic disadvantage and heightened cancer-related stress both near the time of diagnosis and 12 months later. Implications for screening, intervention, and policy are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-02072017-172025 |
| Date | 20 February 2017 |
| Creators | Bemis, Heather Michelle |
| Contributors | Bruce Compas, Megan Saylor, David Cole, Sarah Jaser |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-02072017-172025/ |
| Rights | restrictone, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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