Assessing the Coping Strategies in a Sample of Mothers of Egyptian Children with Leukemia and Lymphom

objectives: Childhood leukemia and lymphoma is the second leading cause of death in children. It negatively impacts the social and professional routines of mothers. The present study examines the prevalence and patterns of psychological distress (PD) among mothers of children with leukemia and lymphoma in order to determine how different coping strategies are associated with stress of cancer diagnosis and negative mental health consequences. The link between maternal anxiety-depressive symptoms and maternal coping strategies is also explored. Patients and Methods: N=86 mothers of children suffering leukemia and lymphoma participated in the present study. Participants were recruited from the inpatient unit of an oncology center. Consenting mothers were asked to complete the family crisis oriented personal evaluation scale (F-COPES), the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Results: Passive appraisal surpassed all other coping strategies with a mean of (4.55±0.71). There was a significant statistical difference in coping strategies. That is, coping strategies between mothers of children with leukemia and lymphoma diagnosed with less than and more than one year duration. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between maternal education level and coping strategies. Conclusion: Profiling coping mechanisms in mothers may prove beneficial when designing interventions that strengthen a wide set of coping skills. These strategies might help them to adapt to stressful situations and decrease their depression and anxiety levels.