dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to assess the
different coping strategies used by mothers of
children with cancer admitted to the national
cancer hospital, Sri Lanka.
This study was conducted with 200 mothers of
children who had cancers. Self-administered
questionnaire was used to get information about
their coping strategies. Data was analysed using
SPSS version 23. Majority of mothers (56.5%) were
in the age between 31 – 40 years and 58% of them
were educated up to Ordinary Level. More than
75% children were diagnosed as having cancer
for more than 6 months. ‘Doing things with my
children’ (100%), ‘Believing the religion / Gods
(90%) and ‘Investing myself in my children’
(85%) were the most helpful coping strategies
for mothers, while ‘Over sleeping’ (74%), ‘Over
eating’ (71%) and ‘Allowing myself to get angry’
(67%) coping strategies were used as less helpful
coping patterns. Doing things with their children
and believing in religion has been the two main
coping strategies used by the mothers of children
with cancer. Relaxation and counselling programs
to modify less desirable coping strategies such as
over sleeping and over eating is also emphasized. | en_US |