Psychological Adjustment of Mothers of Children Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation: The Role of Stress, Coping, and Family Factors

Abstract

We investigated factors related to depression and ruminative worry in 24 mothers of children preparing to undergo bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Stress, family, and coping variables were tested for their associations with maternal depression and ruminative worry. Results indicated that major life stress, social stresses, and disengagement coping substantially predicted the adjustment of mothers of children preparing to undergo BMT. Surprisingly, few family environment characteristics and illness stresses were related to adjustment. Results suggest that intervention programs should help mothers to reduce avoidant coping and should monitor the presence of major social stresses in addition to the illness of the child.