Maternal Parenting Behaviors, Coping Styles, and Children's Coping With Cancer: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Sinem Yalnızoğlu Çaka, Sümeyra Topal, Sinem Öztürkler, Birgül ErdoğanABSTRACT
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the role of maternal parenting behaviors and coping styles in children's coping with cancer in pediatric hematology/oncology diseases.
Methods
This descriptive correlational study included 117 children receiving treatment in a pediatric hematology/oncology clinic and their mothers. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Information Form, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, Stress Coping Styles Scale, and Pediatric Cancer Coping Scale. Parenting behaviors and coping styles were mother‐reported, whereas children's coping with cancer was assessed through child self‐reports. Pearson's correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were used.
Results
Children's coping with cancer was positively associated with maternal child involvement, positive parenting behaviors, and optimistic coping style. Maternal child involvement was positively correlated with children's cognitive coping, problem‐focused coping, and overall Pediatric Cancer Coping Scale (PCCS) scores. In contrast, helpless and submissive coping styles were negatively associated with children's cognitive and problem‐focused coping levels. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that maternal child involvement and optimistic approach were independently associated with children's coping with cancer. The final model explained 23.6% of the variance in total PCCS scores.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that supportive parenting behaviors and adaptive coping strategies may play a protective role in children's psychological adaptation to cancer. In particular, maternal child involvement and optimistic coping appear to strengthen children's coping processes during cancer treatment. These findings underscore the importance of family‐centered psychosocial interventions in pediatric oncology care.