Psychological Impact and Coping Strategies of Hispanic Parents of Children with Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Throughout the cancer trajectory, parents of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) may experience mental and social challenges requiring continual adaptation to cancer-induced stress. Using Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping framework, this qualitative study aimed to describe Hispanic parents’ psychological health and explore their coping strategies. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 15 Hispanic caregivers from a safety-net hospital in Los Angeles County. To be eligible, participants had to be: the primary caregiver of a CCS who had completed active treatment, the primary caregiver or child self-identified as Hispanic, and proficient in English or Spanish. The interviews lasted approximately 60 min, were audio-recorded (in English and Spanish), and professionally transcribed. Data were analyzed following a thematic content analysis with deductive and inductive approaches on Dedoose. Participants described high levels of stress and fear when their child was diagnosed with cancer. They also shared experiencing symptoms of social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Participants’ coping strategies were encompassed by three major themes: problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping strategies. Problem-focused coping strategies included self-efficacy, behavioral change, and social support. Emotion-focused coping strategies included religious practices and positive reframing. Avoidant coping strategies included denial and self-distraction. Despite the evident disparities in psychological health for Hispanic parents of CCSs, gaps remain in designing a culturally tailored program to help alleviate the caregiver burden. This study provides insights regarding coping strategies that Hispanic caregivers use to deal with the psychological impact of their child’s cancer diagnosis. Our findings also delve into the contextual and cultural factors that impact psychological adjustment.