Perceptions of Child Vulnerability, Parental Overprotection, and Parenting Stress among Parents of a Child with Cancer

Abstract

Parents of child with cancer often perceive their child as vulnerable and are at risk of overprotecting their child because of the challenges associated with the illness. We examined the relationships of perceived child vulnerability, parental overprotection, and parenting stress among Korean parents of a child with cancer. A sample of 163 parents of a child with cancer completed questionnaires. Perceived child vulnerability was associated with parenting stress. Parental overprotection was associated with parental distress and difficult child, but not dysfunctional parent–child interactions. This study emphasizes the need to consider parenting capacity variables in the context of childhood cancer.