Stress and Support in Relation to Parental Self: A Comparison between Mothers of Children in Cancer Treatment and Mothers of Healthy Children

This study investigated the impact of parental self-representation on perceived stress and support in mothers of children in cancer treatment compared to mothers of healthy children. Measures: the Perceived Support Scale (De Caroli & Sagone, 2013, ), the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983, ), and Semantic Differential Technique for Parental Self (De Caroli & Sagone, 2011).ResultsMothers of children in cancer treatment obtained higher levels of stress and perceived support than control group; additionally, mothers of children in cancer treatment showed a less positive image of parental self than control group. Negative correlations between levels of perceived stress and parental self and positive correlations between levels of support and parental self were found.