Mothers' responses during the child's stem cell transplantation: pilot study.

PURPOSE Examine the relationships between the mothers' anxiety and depressive symptomatology and resources (problem-solving orientation and style, coping, and social support) during their child's stem cell transplantation (SCT). METHOD A prospective correlation design was used. A convenience sample of 23 mothers completed State-Anxiety Inventory, Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised, and Stress Support Scale at the child's admission and 10 days after the stem cells infusion. FINDINGS Significant relationships were found between mothers' negative problem-solving orientation and emotional responses, coping and depressive symptomatology, and between social support and emotional responses but in an inverse direction. CONCLUSION Health care professionals need to increase their understanding of mothers' stress responses during the SCT. These responses may affect the mother/child interactions and the mother's ability to provide childcare. A psychosocial intervention that includes these resources may assist the mothers during their child's SCT.