Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics
Abstract Background The impact of childhood cancer extends beyond the affected child, significantly influencing the mental health of their families. Since research in psycho-oncology has been carried out almost exclusively in high-income countries, little is known about the impact of childhood cance...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06494-z |
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| author | Hawkar Ibrahim Azad Ali Ismail Narin Ahmed Rahim Benjamin Iffland Frank Neuner |
| author_facet | Hawkar Ibrahim Azad Ali Ismail Narin Ahmed Rahim Benjamin Iffland Frank Neuner |
| author_sort | Hawkar Ibrahim |
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| description | Abstract Background The impact of childhood cancer extends beyond the affected child, significantly influencing the mental health of their families. Since research in psycho-oncology has been carried out almost exclusively in high-income countries, little is known about the impact of childhood cancer on the family level in low- and middle income countries (LMICs). This is a notable gap in the evidence-base, as many LMICs are collectivist cultures, where social and family networks are crucial elements of health care. Methods This prospective, cross-sectional study examined the mental health of 307 Kurdish parents of children undergoing cancer treatment in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Data were collected through structured interviews at two major oncology hospitals in the KRI, utilizing standardized instruments to assess mental health symptoms, socioeconomic status, and social constraints. The study focused on understanding the effects of socioeconomic challenges, disease severity, and social support limitations on parental mental health. Results Significant mental health challenges were observed among parents, with mothers experiencing higher symptom levels than fathers. Lower socioeconomic status was linked to poorer parental mental health. Additionally, parents of children with more severe cancer and those reporting their child’s reduced engagement in daily activities experienced heightened mental health symptoms. Social constraints on expressing feelings about the child’s illness further intensified parental stress, underscoring the cumulative impact of economic strain, disease severity, and limited social support on parental mental health. Conclusions The study highlights the intricate relationship between socioeconomic factors, the disease severity of the child, and social dynamics in shaping parental mental health in the context of pediatric cancer. Psychosocial interventions that target these specific stressors may aid in better supporting families, particularly those in low-resource settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-31b0469c2fed44409d2c63a7d47f74e3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-31b0469c2fed44409d2c63a7d47f74e32025-01-19T12:34:22ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-01-0125111310.1186/s12888-025-06494-zChildhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamicsHawkar Ibrahim0Azad Ali Ismail1Narin Ahmed Rahim2Benjamin Iffland3Frank Neuner4Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Koya UniversityIndependent ResearcherDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld UniversityAbstract Background The impact of childhood cancer extends beyond the affected child, significantly influencing the mental health of their families. Since research in psycho-oncology has been carried out almost exclusively in high-income countries, little is known about the impact of childhood cancer on the family level in low- and middle income countries (LMICs). This is a notable gap in the evidence-base, as many LMICs are collectivist cultures, where social and family networks are crucial elements of health care. Methods This prospective, cross-sectional study examined the mental health of 307 Kurdish parents of children undergoing cancer treatment in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Data were collected through structured interviews at two major oncology hospitals in the KRI, utilizing standardized instruments to assess mental health symptoms, socioeconomic status, and social constraints. The study focused on understanding the effects of socioeconomic challenges, disease severity, and social support limitations on parental mental health. Results Significant mental health challenges were observed among parents, with mothers experiencing higher symptom levels than fathers. Lower socioeconomic status was linked to poorer parental mental health. Additionally, parents of children with more severe cancer and those reporting their child’s reduced engagement in daily activities experienced heightened mental health symptoms. Social constraints on expressing feelings about the child’s illness further intensified parental stress, underscoring the cumulative impact of economic strain, disease severity, and limited social support on parental mental health. Conclusions The study highlights the intricate relationship between socioeconomic factors, the disease severity of the child, and social dynamics in shaping parental mental health in the context of pediatric cancer. Psychosocial interventions that target these specific stressors may aid in better supporting families, particularly those in low-resource settings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06494-zChildhood cancerParental mental healthSocial constraintsSocial dynamicsSocioeconomic impact |
| spellingShingle | Hawkar Ibrahim Azad Ali Ismail Narin Ahmed Rahim Benjamin Iffland Frank Neuner Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics BMC Psychiatry Childhood cancer Parental mental health Social constraints Social dynamics Socioeconomic impact |
| title | Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics |
| title_full | Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics |
| title_short | Childhood cancer and parental mental health: role of disease severity, socioeconomic status, and social dynamics |
| title_sort | childhood cancer and parental mental health role of disease severity socioeconomic status and social dynamics |
| topic | Childhood cancer Parental mental health Social constraints Social dynamics Socioeconomic impact |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06494-z |
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