Depression and Coping Strategies among Parents of Children with Cancer in Malaysia

Parental Depression and Coping in Cancer
Vol. 19 No. 2 : 2024 (425-440)

Yeap SL Yeap SL
Mahadevan r Mahadevan r
yusof yb yusof yb
Alias h Alias h
Abd Rahman fn Abd Rahman fn

Abstract
Depressive symptoms have been reported to be more prominent in parents of children with cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and its association with socio-demographic factors and coping strategies among parents of children with cancer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and Penang General Hospital (PGH). In a cross-sectional study, participants were screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The diagnosis of MDD for those with high risk was established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.). Coping strategies were assessed using Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE) scale. Out of the 162 parents included in the study, 17.3% of participants had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. About 10% had moderate symptoms while 7.4% had severe symptoms. All 7.4% were diagnosed with MDD. Participants who adopted the use of denial (ß = 0.611), behavioural disengagement (ß = 0.992) and self blame (ß = 0.682) had higher likelihood of having depressive symptoms. Child’s duration of illness (ß = -0.028) had a significant negative impact on PHQ-9 scores. In conclusion, parents of children with cancer should be screened for depression during this challenging time.
Keywords : Cancer; depression; parent,
Abstrak
Gejala kemurungan telah dilaporkan lebih ketara di kalangan ibu bapa yang mempunyai anak yang menghidap kanser. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan prevalens gangguan kemurungan utama (MDD) dan kaitannya dengan faktor sosio-demografi dan strategi daya tindak dalam kalangan ibu bapa kanak-kanak yang menghidap kanser di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKMMC) dan Hospital Besar Pulau Pinang (PGH). Dalam kajian keratan rentas, peserta telah disaring untuk kemurungan dengan menggunakan Soal Selidik Kesihatan Pesakit (PHQ-9). Diagnosis MDD bagi mereka yang berisiko tinggi telah disahkan menggunakan Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.). Strategi daya tindak dinilai menggunakan skala 'Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory' (Brief COPE). Daripada jumlah 162 ibu bapa dalam kajian ini, 17.3% peserta mempunyai simptom kemurungan sederhana hingga teruk. Kira-kira 10% mempunyai simptom sederhana manakala 7.4% mempunyai simptom yang teruk. Kesemua 7.4% telah didiagnosis dengan MDD. Peserta yang menggunakan penafian (ß = 0.611), pelepasan tingkah laku (ß = 0.992) dan menyalahkan diri sendiri (ß = 0.682) mempunyai kemungkinan lebih tinggi untuk mengalami gejala kemurungan. Tempoh penyakit anak (ß = -0.028) mempunyai kesan negatif yang ketara ke atas skor PHQ-9. Kesimpulannya, ibu bapa yang mempunyai anak yang menghidap kanser harus disaring untuk kemurungan pada masa yang mencabar ini.
Kata Kunci : Ibu bapa; kanser; kemurungan,