Mothers' and fathers' views of family management and health-related quality of life for young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors

J Psychosoc Oncol. 2021;39(5):629-645. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2020.1844845. Epub 2020 Nov 16.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine associations between fathers' and mothers' appraisals of family management and physical and emotional health-related quality of life (QOL) for young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Sample: 47 mothers and 39 fathers (39-67 years old); 47 survivors (18-33 years old).

Methods: Analyses evaluated relationships among family management (Survivor's Daily Life, Condition Management Ability, Condition Management Effort, Family Life Difficulty, View of Condition Impact, Parental Mutuality), quality of life, and parental role.

Findings: Except for Parental Mutuality, family management ratings were not significantly different for mothers and fathers, and parental views of survivors' physical and emotional QOL improved with better family management. Parental role moderated associations between physical and emotional QOL and Survivors' Daily Life and between emotional QOL and Condition Management Ability, Condition Management Effort, and View of Condition Impact.

Implications for psychosocial providers: Assess and address survivor QOL through family management from multiple perspectives.

Keywords: family management; health-related quality of life; oncology; parenting; psychosocial functioning; young adult cancer survivors.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fathers
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mothers
  • Quality of Life*
  • Survivors
  • Young Adult