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Qualitative Analysis of the Role of Culture in Coping Themes of Latina and European American Mothers of Children With Cancer

University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Center and the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Division of Plastic Surgery, ajohns{at}chla.usc.edu

Alyssa A. Oland, PhD

Pediatric Psychology program at University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Center

Ernest R. Katz, PhD

HOPE Program and director of the Behavioral Sciences Section in the Children's Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Olle Jane Z. Sahler, MD

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York

Martha A. Askins, PhD

Adolescent and Young Adult Program and Creative Arts Program at the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Robert W. Butler, PhD

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Oregon Health Sciences University

Michael J. Dolgin, PhD

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Schneider Children's Medical Center in Israel

It has been well established that mothers of children diagnosed with cancer experience high levels of distress. Latina mothers may be at risk for higher levels of distress related to language barriers, cultural factors, and economic, immigration, and acculturation stressors. Despite the increasing US Latino population, few studies have examined the role of culture within pediatric oncology, including how mothers cope with their child's cancer. This study used qualitative analysis of 24 sessions from 3 Latina and 3 European American mothers of children recently diagnosed with cancer. The session transcripts were divided into a total of 2328 thought segments that were then analyzed for themes using a collaborative iterative process. Analysis identified 9 shared coping themes that included, with some variations: gathering information, professional help-seeking, activities, problem solving, positive thinking, present orientation, reframing, avoidance, and religion. Three themes were culture specific: only European American mothers discussed compromise, whereas normalization and perspective taking were unique to the Latina mothers and suggest that the cultural value of simpatía influences coping. Clinical and research recommendations are discussed.

Key Words: mothers of children with cancer • coping • culture • Latino • qualitative analysis

This version was published on May 1, 2009

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 26, No. 3, 167-175 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1043454209334416


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