Coping strategies used by Mothers’ of children with Leukemia in Pune, India
Abstract
Background: The assessment of coping strategies used by the mothers of children with leukemia will provide a further basis of helping mothers’ adaptation.  This study was undertaken to assess the coping strategies used by mothers of children with leukemia in Bharati Hospital Pune, India.
 Methods: This was an exploratory study of 60 mothers whose children diagnosed with leukemia within one year and taking treatment from Bharati Hospital, Pune, India. Data collection was conducted based upon coping strategy Scale including Problem solving( Acceptance, seeking support, and positive action) and emotional( avoidance, emotive and distancing) coping strategies. Correlation with selected demographic variables is also done.
A total of 60 mothers whose children diagnosed with leukemia within one year of life participated in study.
Results: Results of this study showed 71.7 % of the mothers of children with leukemia are having poor coping strategies. The mothers have used both problem solving and emotional coping strategy equally as follows , seeking support (5.33±0.75 ), then emotive coping strategy (4.8±1.30) , Acceptance (2.9±0.51), Avoidance(2.5±0.64) Distancing (1.9±0.87) then positive action (1.6±1.2). Duration of illness are the demographic variables which were found to have significant association with Coping strategies.It can be interpretted from the findings that the coping strategies are poor with in four months after diagnosis is made as p value is less than 0.05.
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