How parents cope with their child’s diagnosis and treatment of an embryonal tumor: results of a prospective and longitudinal study

The current study reports longitudinal coping responses among parents of children diagnosed with an embryonal brain tumor. Patients ( n = 219) were enrolled on a treatment protocol for a pediatric embryonal brain tumor. Their parents ( n = 251) completed the Coping Response Inventory at time of their child’s diagnosis and yearly thereafter, resulting in 502 observations. Outcomes were examined with patient and parent age at diagnosis, patient risk, parent gender and education as covariates. At the time of diagnosis, the highest observed coping method was seeking guidance with well above average scores (T = 61.6). Over time, younger parents were found to seek guidance at a significantly higher rate than older parents ( P = .016) and the use of acceptance resignation and seeking alternative results by all parents significantly increased ( P = .011 and P