The study focused on correlations between mothers’ coping strategies of children suffering from tumor, during the treatment phase, and the perception of their own family functioning in terms of cohesion and adaptability. The research verified that a virtuous connection between the variables represents an important resource for the mothers. The study was performed within a group of 34 mothers of children suffering from tumor, during the treatment phase. The instruments were the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced-New Italian Version (COPE-NVI), to investigate coping strategies, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES III), to analyze perception of family functioning. There were statistically positive correlations between family cohesion and orientation toward problem (r =.49, p < 0.05) and family adaptability and orientation toward problem (r = 0.36, p < 0.01); and statistically negative correlations between adaptability and transcendent orientation (r =-0.40, p < 0.01).
Keywords: Coping behavior, family functioning, pediatric oncology, treatment.
Giovanna Perricone, Concetta Polizzi, Maria Regina Morales, Valentina Fontana, Perception of family functioning and coping strategies in mothers of children suffering from tumour during the treatment phase in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 3/2013, pp. 101-113, DOI:10.3280/PDS2013-003005