Parent caregiver adjustment to cancer of an adult child

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess which contextual variables (parent caregiver, social support, age and gender) and objective variables (type of diagnosis, stage of illness and patient distress) affected the adjustment to illness of parent caregivers of an adult married ill child. Method: Forty-one parent caregivers of an adult married cancer-diagnosed child completed a questionnaire that measured psychological adjustment (Brief Symptom Inventory, BSI), psychosocial adjustment to illness (Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, PAIS) and social support (MSSPS). Results: Preliminary findings indicate that social support and the patient's psychological distress were the main effects on the parents' psychological adjustment to the illness. Conclusion: A psychosocial intervention program for parents is needed so as to reduce their distress arising from the stress of the illness.