Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy on Anxiety and Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty member of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD Student in Health Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran

3 Master of Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Buin Zahra Branch,

4 PhD Student in General Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Saveh Branch, Saveh, Iran

Abstract

Introductoin: Parents of children with cancer are at risk for mental disorders such as anxiety that affects their quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of self-compassion-focused therapy on anxiety and quality of life in parents of children with cancer.
Method: This study was a quasi-experimental study. Sixty parents of children with a cancer diagnosis were randomly selected from patients referred to the oncology department of hospitals under the auspices of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2021 and were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The Demographic questionnaire, Beck anxiety questionnaire and quality of life questionnaire were completed by both groups before the intervention. Self-compassion-focused therapy was taught to the parents in the intervention group for 2 months. Questionnaires were completed by both groups in the post-test and follow-up stages. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS software version 21.
Results: The results of the present study showed that before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of anxiety and quality of life in the experimental and control groups (p-value <0.05). Immediately after the intervention and three subsequent follow-ups, a statistically significant difference was observed in the mean scores of anxiety in the two groups (p-value <0.05. (
Discussion and Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the treatment of self-centered compassion in parents with children with cancer who have high anxiety is highly educable and will reduce anxiety and increase their quality of life

Keywords

References

  1. Kratz CP, Jongmans MC, Cavé H, Wimmer K, Behjati S, Guerrini-Rousseau L, Milde T, Pajtler KW, Golmard L, Gauthier-Villars M, Jewell R. Predisposition to cancer in children and adolescents. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 2021 Feb 1; 5(2):142-54.
  2. Marcu LG, Chau M, Bezak E. How much is too much? Systematic review of cumulative doses from radiological imaging and the risk of cancer in children and young adults. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology. 2021 Mar 2:103292.
  3. Schraw JM, Desrosiers TA, Nembhard WN, Langlois PH, Meyer RE, Canfield MA, Rasmussen SA, Chambers TM, Spector LG, Plon SE, Lupo PJ. Cancer diagnostic profile in children with structural birth defects: An assessment in 15,000 childhood cancer cases. Cancer. 2020 Aug 1; 126(15):3483-92.
  4. Nielsen MK, Christensen JF, Frandsen TL, Thorsteinsson T, Andersen LB, Christensen KB, Wehner PS, Hasle H, Adamsen LØ, Schmiegelow K, Larsen HB. Effects of a physical activity program from diagnosis on cardiorespiratory fitness in children with cancer: a national non-randomized controlled trial. BMC medicine. 2020 Dec; 18(1):1-2.

 

  1. Toledano-Toledano F, Luna D, Moral de la Rubia J, Martínez Valverde S, Bermúdez Morón CA, Salazar García M, Vasquez Pauca MJ. Psychosocial factors predicting resilience in family caregivers of Children with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 Jan; 18(2):748.
  2. Jadidi R A, Hekmatpou D, Eghbali A, Memari F. The experiences of parents of children with leukemia: A qualitative research. J Arak Uni Med Sci. 2013; 15 (9):28-40.
  3. Luo YH, Li WH, Cheung AT, Ho LL, Xia W, He XL, Zhang JP, Chung JO. Relationships between resilience and quality of life in parents of children with cancer. Journal of Health Psychology. 2021 Jan 31:1359105321990806.
  4. Modanloo S, Rohani C, Farahani Shirin Abadi A, Pourhossein gholi A. Assessment of family function among parents of children with cancer. IJNR. 2015; 10 (1):56-65.
  5. Asadzandi M, Farahany SS, Abolghasemy H, Saberi M, Ebadi A. Effect of Sound Heart Model-based spiritual counseling on stress, anxiety and depression of parents of children with cancer. Iran J Ped Hematol Oncol. 2020; 10(2):96-106.
  6. Toledano-Toledano F, Luna D, Moral de la Rubia J, Martínez Valverde S, Bermúdez Morón CA, Salazar García M, Vasquez Pauca MJ. Psychosocial factors predicting resilience in family caregivers of Children with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 Jan; 18(2):748.
  7. Chung JO, Li WH, Cheung AT, Ho LL, Xia W, Chan GC, Lopez V. Relationships among resilience, depressive symptoms, self‐esteem, and quality of life in children with cancer. Psycho‐ 2021 Feb; 30(2):194-201.
  8. Omani-Samani R, Vesali S, Navid B, Mohajeri M, Rafsanjani KA, Aghamaleki SZ, Mohammadi M. Adult cancer patients and parents of younger cancer patients have little information about fertility preservation: a survey of knowledge and attitude. Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2021 Dec; 26(1):1-9.
  9. Greenzang, K. A., Cronin, A. M., Kang, T. I., & Mack, J. W. (2018). Parental distress and desire for information regarding long‐term implications of pediatric cancer treatment. Cancer, 124(23), 4529-4537.
  10. Racine NM, Khu M, Reynolds K, Guilcher GM, Schulte FS. Quality of life in pediatric cancer survivors: contributions of parental distress and psychosocial family risk. Current Oncology. 2018 Feb; 25(1):41-8.
  11. Barrera M, Hancock K, Atenafu E, Alexander S, Solomon A, Desjardins L, Shama W, Chung J, Mills D. Quality of life in pediatric oncology patients, caregivers and siblings after psychosocial screening: a randomized controlled trial. Supportive care in Cancer. 2020 Aug;28(8):3659-68
  12. Atun R, Bhakta N, Denburg A, Frazier AL, Friedrich P, Gupta S, Lam CG, Ward ZJ, Yeh JM, Allemani C, Coleman MP. Sustainable care for children with cancer: a Lancet Oncology Commission. The Lancet Oncology. 2020 Apr 1; 21(4):e185-224.
  13. Van Warmerdam J, Zabih V, Kurdyak P, Sutradhar R, Nathan PC, and Gupta S. Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of children with cancer: A meta‐ Pediatric blood & cancer. 2019 Jun; 66(6):e27677.
  14. Tabibzadeh F, Soleimani E, Shiroudi S. The effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy on cancer fatigue and self-care behaviors of cancer patients. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ). 2021 Feb 10; 9(12):75-84.
  15. Sadeghpour A, Seif AA, Shahriariahmadi A. Comparing the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy and mindfulness training on post-traumatic developmental disorder and cancer burnout in cancer patients. Journal of psychologicalscience. 2020 Apr 10; 19(86):193-202.
  16. Sanagouye Moharer G, Shirazi M, Kia S, Karami Mohajeri Z. The effect of compassion focused training on hope, life satisfaction and alexithymia of delinquent female adolescents. Iranian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing. 2020 Aug 10; 8(3):46-56.
  17. Khalifesoltani F, Hajializadeh K, Ahadi H, Tavakolizadeh J, Goli F, Ebrahimi A, Hajivosough NS, Mohseni S, Sharbafchizadeh M, Sadeghi S, Zanjani HA. Comparing the Effectiveness of Self-Efficacy-Based Training and Compassion-Focused Therapy on Depression, Self-Care Behaviors and Quality of Life of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture.
  18. Behvandi N, Khayatan F, Gol Parvar M. Comparing the Effectiveness of Compassionate Emotion-Based Integrated Therapy With Compassion Focused Therapy on Perfectionism and Intolerance of Uncertainty Irrational Beliefs in Patients With Early Headache Symptoms.
  19. Jorjorzadeh M, Ehteshamzadeh P, Pasha R, Marashian FS. The Effectiveness of Religious-based Gender Justice Training and Compassion-focused Therapy on Psychological Capital of Girls with Delayed Marriage. International Journal of Health Studies. 2021 Apr 25; 7(2):17-23.
  20. Sourmeh A, Mashhadi A, Sepehri Shamloo Z. The Effectiveness of Group-Based Compassion-Focused Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Improving the Quality of Life in Women with Feminine Cancers. Multidisciplinary Cancer Investigation. 2020 Apr 10;4(2):21-7.
  21. Beck AT, Steer RA. Beck Depression Inventory: Manual. The Psychological Corporation, Harcourt Brace Jovanich Inc., San Diego: 1986.
  22. Kaviani H, Mousavi AS. Psychometric properties of the Persian version of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). TUMS Publications. 2008. May 15; 66(2):136–40.
  23. Dadfar M, Kalibatseva Z. Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Short Beck Depression Inventory with Iranian psychiatric outpatients. Scientifica (Cairo). 2016; 2016:8196463.
  24. Ghasemi M, Lotfollahzadeh H, Kermani-Ranjbar T, Kharazifard MJ. Effect of music practice on anxiety and depression of Iranian dental students. Journal of Dentistry (Tehran, Iran). 2017 May; 14(3):138.
  25. Janani K, Jain M, Vargese J, Srinivasan V, Harika K, Michael T, Venkataraman J. Health-related quality of life in liver cirrhosis patients using SF-36 and CLDQ questionnaires. Clinical and experimental hepatology. 2018 Dec; 4(4):232.
  26. Blüthner E, Bednarsch J, Stockmann M, Karber M, Pevny S, Maasberg S, Gerlach UA, Pascher A, Wiedenmann B, Pratschke J, Pape UF. Determinants of quality of life in patients with intestinal failure receiving long‐term parenteral nutrition using the SF‐36 questionnaire: a German single‐center prospective observational study. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2020 Feb; 44(2):291-300.
  27. Al-Ibrahimya AS, Rabea S. Evaluation of General Health Status in Diabetic Patients Using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Current Diabetes Reviews. 2020 Aug 14.

 

 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics