Mother-Child Communication about Possible Cancer Recurrence During Childhood Cancer Survivorship

Menée aux Etats-Unis auprès de 67 dyades constituées d'un enfant atteint d'un cancer (âge au diagnostic : entre 5 et 17 ans) et de sa mère, cette étude analyse les caractéristiques de leurs discussions sur la récidive éventuelle de la maladie

Résumé en anglais

Objective : Providing opportunities to communicate about possible cancer recurrence may be adaptive for youth in remission, yet parents may experience difficulty guiding discussions related to fears of cancer recurrence (FCR). This study aimed to characterize mother‐child discussions about potential cancer recurrence during post‐treatment survivorship and to determine predictors of maternal communication.

Methods : Families (N=67) were recruited after the child's initial cancer diagnosis (age 5‐17 years) and mothers self‐reported their distress (post‐traumatic stress symptoms; PTSS). During survivorship 3‐5 years later, mothers were video‐recorded discussing cancer with their children. Presence and length of discussion about potential cancer recurrence, triggers for FCR, expressed affect, and conversational reciprocity were examined. Hierarchical regressions were used to assess maternal PTSS near the time of cancer diagnosis and child age as predictors of maternal communication.

Results : Three‐quarters of dyads spontaneously discussed risk for or fears about cancer recurrence; mothers initiated the topic more frequently than their children. Dyads discussed internal (bodily symptoms) and external (medical, social) triggers of FCR. Higher maternal PTSS at diagnosis predicted significantly lower levels of maternal positive affect (