Journal article
Being a mother after a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: Maternal psychosocial functioning and child cognitive development and behavior
Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England), v 29(7), pp 1148-1155
01 Jul 2020
PMID: 32281197
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objective Up to 51.5% of women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy experience trauma (eg, intrusive thoughts, avoidance) and 20% report anxiety. Maternal anxiety can negatively affect child behavior among the noncancer population. This study aims to elucidate relationships between maternal distress, parenting style, and child behavior and development among women with cancer during pregnancy.
Methods This cross-sectional study of child cognitive, language and motor development analyze child behavior in the context of maternal psychosocial well-being after a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy. A subset of women (N = 69) enrolled in the Cancer and Pregnancy Registry, had children undergo developmental testing. The majority underwent Bayley Scales III (children 6-42 months of age; 0-3.5 years) to assess language, cognitive, and motor performance. Women completed the Basic Symptom Inventory, Impact of Events Scale, Parent Behavior Checklist, and Child Behavioral Checklist. Maternal and child assessments were performed concurrently.
Results Sixty-nine women and 71 children (2 sets of twins) ages 6 months to 12 years participated. Maternal depressive and somatic symptoms were associated with more externalizing behaviors. Among younger children (0-3.5 years), maternal somatic symptoms were associated with poorer language performance. Moderation analysis showed that mothers with fewer somatic symptoms and utilization of less discipline had children with less externalizing behaviors and higher language scores (ie, stronger verbal ability).
Conclusions Given the interplay of psychosocial factors on child behavior and development, findings highlight the importance of early screening and psychosocial intervention and support for mothers diagnosed with cancer in pregnancy.
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Details
- Title
- Being a mother after a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: Maternal psychosocial functioning and child cognitive development and behavior
- Creators
- Melanie Betchen - Cooper University HospitalVictoria A. Grunberg - Drexel UniversityMarcy Gringlas - Alfred I. duPont Hospital for ChildrenElyce Cardonick - Cooper University HospitalJanell L Mensinger
- Publication Details
- Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England), v 29(7), pp 1148-1155
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Cooper Foundation
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000527314800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85083808948
- Other Identifier
- 991019357765104721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
- Social Sciences, Biomedical