Abstract
The present study examined the effects of illness representation, perceived quality of information provided by the health-care professional, and perceived social support on the depressive symptoms of the caregivers of children with leukemia. The sample was composed of 71 caregivers of children with leukemia living in Turkey. The obtained data were analyzed by path analysis. The results show that caregivers of children with leukemia experience higher levels of depressive symptoms when they have negative illness representation and lower levels of depressive symptoms when they perceive higher levels of social support. Moreover, they perceive higher social support when they perceive high quality of information provided by health-care professionals. It can be suggested that intervention programs which aim to increase caregivers’ social support and change their illness representation in a positive way would be helpful for the caregivers showing depressive symptoms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
YTL is the abbreviation for the New Turkish Lira that became the new currency unit in January 1, 2005 (Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, 2008).
References
Andreassen, S., Randers, I., Naslund, E., Stockeld, D., & Mattiasson, A. C. (2007). Information needs following a diagnosis of oesophageal cancer; self-perceived information needs of patients and family members compared with the perceptions of healthcare professionals: A pilot study. European Journal of Cancer Care, 16, 277–285.
Atkin, K., & Ahmad, W. I. U. (2000). Family care-giving and chronic illness: How parents cope with a child with a sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia. Health and Social Care in the Community, 8, 57–69.
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory (2nd ed.). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.
Bozo, Ö. (2001). Aging, illness representation, and health behaviors. Unpublished master’s thesis, Middle East Technical University, Ankara.
Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. (2008). Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/ytlkampanya/.
Cohen, S., & Willis, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.
Dalgard, O. S., Bjork, S., & Tambs, K. (1995). Social support, negative life events and mental health. British Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 20–34.
Earle, E. A., Clarke, S. A., Eiser, C., & Sheppard, L. (2006). ‘Building a new normality’: Mothers’ experiences of caring for a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33, 155–160.
Eiser, C., Eiser, J. R., & Greco, V. (2002). Parenting a child with cancer: Promotion and prevention-focused parenting. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 5, 215–221.
Eker, D., & Arkar, H. (1995). The factorial structure, validity, and reliability of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Turkish Journal of Psychology, 34, 45–55.
Eker, D., Arkar, H., & Yaldız, H. (2001). The factorial structure, validity, and reliability of revised form of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 12, 17–25.
Green, S. B., Salkind, N. J., & Akey, T. M. (1997). Using SPSS for windows: Analysing and understanding data. New York: Prentice.
Han, H. R. (2003). Korean mothers’ psychosocial adjustment to their children’s cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 44, 499–506.
Hisli, N. (1989). Beck Depression Inventory: The validity and reliability study for university students. Journal of Psychology, 7, 3–13.
Katz, S. (2002). When the child’s illness is life-threatening: Impact on the parents. Pediatric Nursing, 28, 453–463.
Lösev. (2007). Retrieved March 5, 2007, from http://www.losev.org.tr.
McGrath, P., Paton, M. E., & Huff, N. (2005). Beginning treatment for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: The family connection. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 28, 97–114.
Patistea, E. (2005). Description and adequacy of parental coping behaviours in childhood leukaemia. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 42, 283–296.
Patistea, E., & Babatsikou, F. (2003). Parents’ perception of the information provided to them about their child’s leukemia. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 7, 172–181.
Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2007). Correlates of physical health of informal caregivers: A meta-analysis. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological and Social Sciences, 62B, 126–137.
Prohaska, T. R., Leventhal, E. A., Leventhal, H., & Keller, M. L. (1985). Health practices and illness cognition in young, middle aged, and elderly adults. Journal of Gerontology, 40, 569–578.
Swallow, V. M., & Jacoby, A. (2001). Mothers’ evolving relationships with doctors and nurses during the chronic childhood illness trajectory. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36, 755–764.
Tegin, B. (1980). Cognitive disorders in depression: An investigation based on Beck’s model. Unpublished Doctoral dissertation, Hacettepe University, Ankara.
Yeh, C. H. (2003). Dynamic coping behaviors and process of parental response to child’s cancer. Applied Nursing Research, 16, 245–255.
Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52, 30–41.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bozo, Ö., Anahar, S., Ateş, G. et al. Effects of Illness Representation, Perceived Quality of Information Provided by the Health-Care Professional, and Perceived Social Support on Depressive Symptoms of the Caregivers of Children with Leukemia. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 17, 23–30 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9177-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9177-4