Anxiety and Depression: A Cross-sectional Survey among Parents of Children with Cancer

CONTEXT: Parents of children with cancer are experiencing high levels of psychological distress. Elevated levels of depression and anxiety following the disclosure of diagnosis affect many aspects of parents’ health. AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess anxiety and depression of parents of Iranian children with cancer. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This descriptive-correlational study was undertaken among 148 parents of children with cancer admitted to a pediatric hospital affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz/Iran. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Participants were selected using convenience sampling method. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate patients’ levels of anxiety and depression. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. RESULTS: The study findings showed that the mean anxiety and depression scores were 9.63 ± 3.69 and 8.66 ± 4.59 (range score: 0–21), respectively. Additionally, 41.2% (n = 61) and 32.4% (n = 48) of participants had clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children with cancer experienced high levels of anxiety and depression. Effective interventions are essential to improve the mental health of parents of children with cancer. These interventions may include mental health screening, psychological counseling, and training programs to cope with the problems caused by the child's disease.