Maternal coping and anxiety in pediatric onco-hematology

Study aims to monitor and to explore strategies of coping and levels of anxiety in mothers of onco-haematological children. During the year 2008/09, 40 mothers, of the Department of Pediatric Oncology, were given the Bern Coping test and STAI questionnaire, within the first month of hospitalization. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and correlation analysis through SPSS software. Mothers show high trait anxiety levels (M=61,55;S.D.=12,37) and they, mainly, use cognitive (M=26,30;D.S.=4,8) and active coping (M=24,75;S.D.=5,6). The correlation is significant (r=0,42) at the level 0,01 between state-trait anxiety. Mothers use cognitive coping based on rationalization and active coping based on emotional acting, maybe, to defend themself against the anxiety's trauma. It seems that the low use of emotional coping is based on emotional freezing/isolation to not feel pain and suffering tied to child’s illness. Specific psychological supports and measurement in follow-up will be organized to improve psychic health and functional mother/child relationship