| A mother's diagnosis of cancer greatly affects the well-being of her children (Lewis, 1990). Researchers have identified symptoms of distress in children of cancer patients including anxiety, depression, behavior problems, and intrusive thoughts and avoidance (Compas, et al., 1994; Compas, Worsham, & Howell, 1996). In addition, a lack of disclosure of parental illness has been found to further increase distress (Rosenheim & Reicher, 1985). The present study assessed demographic, medical, and psychological predictors of cancer disclosure to children in addition to the relationship between disclosure of mother's cancer diagnosis and child's distress in 83 women with breast cancer. Correlations showed that the FACT-G, a measure of quality of life in cancer patients, was a significant predictor of mothers' disclosure of cancer diagnosis to their children (p = .04). Similar to past empirical and clinical findings, amount of diagnosis disclosure was significantly related to child's distress as rated by the mother (p = .05). Significant differences were found for amount of disclosure based on child's age and gender with older children and females being told more information (p's < .05). Finally, on the FACES 83% of families were found to be balanced or moderately balanced. These preliminary findings suggest that mothers' quality of life may predict disclosure of cancer diagnosis. Since most families in the study were found to be balanced other variables warrant further investigation as potential moderators in the relationship between disclosure and distress. |
