Psychological distress in grandparents of grandchildren who survived childhood cancer − Results from the GROkids project

Cristina Priboi; Anica Ilic; Pauline Holmer; Peter Francis Raguindin; Katharina Roser; Eva Maria Tinner; Rebecca Baechtold; Marc Ansari; Manuel Diezi; Elena Lemmel; Freimut H. Schilling; Katrin Scheinemann; Gisela Michel

EJC Paediatric Oncology (Jun 2024)

Psychological distress in grandparents of grandchildren who survived childhood cancer − Results from the GROkids project

Cristina Priboi,
Anica Ilic,
Pauline Holmer,
Peter Francis Raguindin,
Katharina Roser,
Eva Maria Tinner,
Rebecca Baechtold,
Marc Ansari,
Manuel Diezi,
Elena Lemmel,
Freimut H. Schilling,
Katrin Scheinemann,
Gisela Michel

Affiliations

Cristina Priboi: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Anica Ilic: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Pauline Holmer: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Peter Francis Raguindin: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Katharina Roser: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Eva Maria Tinner: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, University Cancer Center Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
Rebecca Baechtold: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, University Cancer Center Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
Marc Ansari: CANSEARCH research platform for pediatric oncology and hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Geneva, Division of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Department of Women, Child and Adolescent, University Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
Manuel Diezi: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Center Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Elena Lemmel: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Center Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Freimut H. Schilling: Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital, Lucerne, Switzerland
Katrin Scheinemann: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St Gallen, Switzerland; Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children’s Hospital and McMaster University Hamilton, Canada
Gisela Michel: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland; Correspondence to: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Alpenquai 4, Lucerne 6005, Switzerland

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3
p. 100162

Abstract

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Introduction: Having a grandchild who survived childhood cancer might affect grandparents’ mental health. We aimed to A) describe the psychological distress of grandparents of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and compare their distress to the Swiss general population, and B) explore the associations between the psychological distress of grandparents with person-, child-, and cancer-related characteristics. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Switzerland. Grandparents were identified from families of eligible CCS (cancer diagnosis before 18 years old; 3–10 years after diagnosis). A subsample of a representative sample for the Swiss general population was used for comparison similar in age, gender and language region. The Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) was administered to assess psychological distress on three domains: somatization, depression, anxiety; and a Global Severity Index [GSI]. We ran Chi-squared and t-tests to compare grandparents and comparisons, and univariable, multivariable and multilevel regressions to analyze associations. Results: In total, 122 grandparents (60.7% female, mean age=72.8; SD=6.8) and 354 comparisons participated (55.4% female; mean age=65.7; SD=5.5). Grandparents reported average distress levels and their scores did not differ significantly from the comparison sample (all p>.05). Grandparents with worse health perception described more psychological distress (somatization: β=6.86, p<.001; depression: β=4.17 p<.001; anxiety: β=5.87, p<.001; GSI: β=6.30, p<.001), while single grandparents experienced more depression than those in a partnership (β=-6.21, p=.013). Discussion: Our findings are encouraging, showing adequate psychological health among grandparents of CCS. However, grandparents who perceived their health as poorer encounter higher levels of distress and may benefit from access to support groups and tailored informational material.

Published in EJC Paediatric Oncology

ISSN: 2772-610X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ejc-paediatric-oncology

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