Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Families with a Child in Cancer Treatment

ABSTRACT

The COVID−19 pandemic may have uniquely impacted families of children in cancer treatment. Primary caregivers (N = 47) completed validated measures of COVID−19 exposure, impact, and psychosocial distress between July 2020 and January 2021. Caregivers reported several pandemic-related disruptions to daily life (COVID−19 exposure) and a negative impact of the pandemic on caregiver mood (70%) and anxiety (72%). A subset of caregivers reported a positive impact of the pandemic on physical wellbeing and family functioning. Family psychosocial distress was associated with higher COVID−19 exposure but not COVID−19 impact. Results highlight family resilience as well as groups with unmet psychosocial needs.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank our research and our hematology/oncology medical teams for their help conducting this study. We would also like to acknowledge all the children and their families who participated in the research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request https://www.kumc.edu/cbates4.html.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Children’s Mercy Cancer Center Auxiliary Research Fund.