Resilience and mental health in parents of children surviving Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Abstract

Our main findings in the present study are that parents of children surviving leukaemia have in general an average level of resilience. Regarding mental health, fathers show more mental health symptoms. Fathers struggle with depression and anxiety, while mothers show no such symptoms. Despite showing symptoms for depression and anxiety, fathers are still capable of being structured and having social competence in the daily life. The same goes for mothers who manage future planning well. As a result, the first hypothesis which stated that parents of ALL children had weaker resilience, as well as the second hypothesis about the relationship between high resilience and good mental health can be rejected.

The course of childhood cancer is not predictable for either children or parents. Some children respond rapidly to treatment, and have a relatively smooth course, while others go through a tough time and experience more difficulties. Parents’ physical and mental health also fluctuates during the active cancer period. The child and the parents affect each other by their adaption and coping style. Besides researchers and health care professionals, other parents and family members in the same situation, will also gain from new knowledge about protective factors and other factors that might lead to or strengthening ones’ resiliency and mental.