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Family Reactions in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Remission
Author(s) -
TILLER J. W. G.,
EKERT H.,
RICKARDS W. S.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1977.tb01147.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , nuclear family , depression (economics) , pediatrics , psychiatry , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics
A pilot study of the families of 19 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in remission for 12‐23 months is reported. Reactions reported by the families were most marked in parents. Tentative findings suggest that maternal depression and anxiety symptoms may provide an index of family strain. Fathers' job status markedly influenced the degree and timing of additional social and financial stress. Reactions in siblings tended to be minimised, denied or ignored. Problems tended to be most marked in the isolated nuclear family, especially when estranged from relatives and when there was pre‐morbid illness in another family member. Close relationships, the presence of teenage family members, and stable external factors such as hospital support appeared to minimise subsequent family disorder. Therapeutic measures to help these families are discussed.