Stress levels and coping strategies among Jordanian parents caring for newly diagnosed children with leukemia: A cross sectional descriptive correlational study

Abstract

Background:

The purpose of this study was to describe the stress experienced and coping approaches exhibited by Jordanian parents of children recently diagnosed with leukemia.

Method:

This cross-sectional study collected data from parents of children who had been diagnosed with leukemia within the previous three months (N = 130; 57 fathers (43.8%) and 73 mothers (56.2%), age (Mean = 37.5, SD = 8.4)). The Parenting Stress Index–Short Form was used. Similarly, parents’ coping approaches were assessed with the Coping Health Inventory for Parents.

Results:

Parents’ mean total stress and coping strategies scores were 108 (± 26.8) and 93.9 (± 15.6), respectively. There were significant negative relationships between parents’ stress levels and age (r = −0.46, p = .01), education level (f = 28.5, p < .05), and income (r = −0.65, p = .01). Additionally, there were significant positive relationships between parents’ coping strategies and age (r = 0.34, p = .01) and income (r = 0.53, p < .01). There were non-significant differences between fathers’ and mothers’ stress levels and coping strategies.

Conclusions:

Parents of children with leukemia experienced high stress. The findings also confirmed the negative relationship between parents’ stress, age, education level, and income; and the positive relationship between parents’ coping strategies, age, and income.

Application to Practice:

Several strategies are needed to manage said stress; for example, respite care for parents who spend long hours at the hospital. Volunteers to care for children at home or hospital might also relieve parents’ stress.

Keywords:

• children
• coping strategy
• Jordanian
• leukemia
• parenting
• stress

Acknowledgments

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. We thank all the associated personnel that contributed to this research. This study could not have been accomplished without the contribution of the parents and their children who agreed to participate. Their contributions are highly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.