Family coping with childhood leukemia: One year after diagnosis

Sixty-four families of children diagnosed with leukemia participated in the Coping Project, a prospective study of family coping with leukemia. Based on ratings made by physicians, nurses, psychosocial staff, and parents, most families appeared to be coping well at 1 year postdiagnosis. Mothers'; self-ratings were significantly higher at I year than at diagnosis, but ratings by professional staff were relatively stable. Variables which were found to be related to good coping were age of child, coping with other family members, occupational status of the father, and lack of sibling problems. Parent personality and disposition towards coping were not related to coping, nor was continued psychosocial intervention at this time. It was speculated that since most of the children were in remission, there were fewer crises and less need for intervention than in the early treatment phase of the illness.