Perceptions of communication, family adaptability and cohesion: a comparison of adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer and their parents
Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: To describe and compare adolescent and parent perspectives on communication, family adaptability and cohesion, as well as relationships among these variables, during the first month of an adolescent's cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Seventy adolescent-parent dyads were enrolled as part of a larger multi-site study. The adolescents ranged in age from 11 to 19, and 61% were males. Parents were predominately mothers (83%). Dyads were predominately non-Hispanic Caucasian (63%). Measures included the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II). Paired t-tests, Pearson correlations, intra-class correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analyses were completed. RESULTS: Adolescent scores on communication, family adaptability and cohesion were significantly lower than parent scores. The inter-dyadic agreement between adolescents and parents was low. Communication, family adaptability and cohesion were examined separately for adolescents and for parents, and significant relationships were found. Both adolescent- and parent-perceived communication was significantly associated with family adaptability and cohesion outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were found in adolescent and parent perceptions of communication, family adaptability and cohesion. When both adolescents and parents had better perceived communication, this was associated with better perceived family adaptability and cohesion. Results suggest that the development of interventions to enhance adolescent-parent communication could help foster better family adaptability and cohesion, which may ultimately impact their psychological adjustment. In addition, understanding the degree to which adolescents and parents disagree on their perceptions, including the results that parents generally have more favorable perceptions, may be a useful starting point when developing interventions.
Institutions: Indiana University Indianapolis, St Vincent Hospital
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Indiana University: Training in Behavioral Nursing, RESILIENCE &QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER, Palliative Cancer Care: Music Video for AYA-Parent Communication and Resilience, Adolescent/Young adult with cancer: Provider connectedness, Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute-K12 Program, Music Video and Adolescent Resilience During Transplant
OpenAlex ID: W2321613311