[Single-parenting and parental cancer--how does this affect the child? Children's mental health problems and their quality of life from their own and their mother's perspective]

Abstract

Purpose: Both, children of somatically ill parents and children of single-mothers are at risk to develop mental health problems and low QoL. This study investigates the effect on children when their single-mothers are exposed to cancer.

Methods: In a Cross-sectional design a sample of N=47 children of single-mothers exposed to parental cancer was compared to a sample of N=135 children of mothers (living in partnership) exposed to cancer (multi informant approach).

Results: SDQ and KIDSCREEN showed no differences between children of single-mothers and children of mothers in partnership. In the focused sample older children (11-17 years) showed more conduct problems than younger children (4-10 years). The differences between the types of assessment was significant for conduct problems.

Conclusion: Single-parenting and parental cancer as a double burden don't increase the risk for mental health problems and low QoL of children. The results for conduct problems will be discussed.