Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia

Introduction The diagnosis of leukemia in a child is traumatic life experience that negatively affects parents and especialy the mother which is the “caregiver” who assists and coordinates all stages of treatment. Objectives To determine the prevalence of psychological distress among mothers of tu...

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Main Authors: S. Dhakouani, M. Karoui, S. Jammeli, R. Kammoun, F. Ellouz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016935/type/journal_article
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author S. Dhakouani
M. Karoui
S. Jammeli
R. Kammoun
F. Ellouz
author_facet S. Dhakouani
M. Karoui
S. Jammeli
R. Kammoun
F. Ellouz
author_sort S. Dhakouani
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The diagnosis of leukemia in a child is traumatic life experience that negatively affects parents and especialy the mother which is the “caregiver” who assists and coordinates all stages of treatment. Objectives To determine the prevalence of psychological distress among mothers of tunisian children with leukemia and to investigate their coping strategies. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Aziza Othmana hospital department of pedo-oncology in Tunisia between June and July 2021. HADS scale was used to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression and coping strategies were measured via arabic version of the brief cope scale. Results We included 31 mothers, their middle age was 41 years old. In this study we didn’t include mothers with psychiatric history. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most frequent type of cancer in our sample (94%). The middle age of the children was 10 years old and all of them were under chemotherapy. Clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression were reported by 58% and 49% of mothers, respectively. In our study, 81% of the participants practiced prayer and all mothers turned to religion as a coping strategy. Approach coping styles (especially acceptance and planning) were more frequently used than avoidant coping styles (especially substance use and denial). Conclusions Mothers are profoundly affected by a child’s cancer diagnosis, they should have early assessment of their mental health needs to have access to appropriate interventions. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-1006f95015074b08a86e089ea11a7f352023-11-17T05:07:14ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S659S65910.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1693Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in TunisiaS. Dhakouani0M. Karoui1S. Jammeli2R. Kammoun3F. Ellouz4Razi hospital, G, Tunis, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Psychiatry G, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Psychiatry G, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Psychiatry G, manouba, TunisiaRazi Hospital, Psychiatry G, manouba, Tunisia Introduction The diagnosis of leukemia in a child is traumatic life experience that negatively affects parents and especialy the mother which is the “caregiver” who assists and coordinates all stages of treatment. Objectives To determine the prevalence of psychological distress among mothers of tunisian children with leukemia and to investigate their coping strategies. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Aziza Othmana hospital department of pedo-oncology in Tunisia between June and July 2021. HADS scale was used to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression and coping strategies were measured via arabic version of the brief cope scale. Results We included 31 mothers, their middle age was 41 years old. In this study we didn’t include mothers with psychiatric history. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most frequent type of cancer in our sample (94%). The middle age of the children was 10 years old and all of them were under chemotherapy. Clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression were reported by 58% and 49% of mothers, respectively. In our study, 81% of the participants practiced prayer and all mothers turned to religion as a coping strategy. Approach coping styles (especially acceptance and planning) were more frequently used than avoidant coping styles (especially substance use and denial). Conclusions Mothers are profoundly affected by a child’s cancer diagnosis, they should have early assessment of their mental health needs to have access to appropriate interventions. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016935/type/journal_articlecopingpsychooncologyleukemiamothers
spellingShingle S. Dhakouani
M. Karoui
S. Jammeli
R. Kammoun
F. Ellouz
Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia
European Psychiatry
coping
psychooncology
leukemia
mothers
title Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia
title_full Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia
title_fullStr Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia
title_full_unstemmed Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia
title_short Coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in Tunisia
title_sort coping strategies among mothers of children with leukemia in tunisia
topic coping
psychooncology
leukemia
mothers
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016935/type/journal_article
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AT rkammoun copingstrategiesamongmothersofchildrenwithleukemiaintunisia
AT fellouz copingstrategiesamongmothersofchildrenwithleukemiaintunisia