Conclusions
The parents of children with cancer have more severe PTSS and depression
than the parents of healthy children, but the children with cancer and
healthy children have comparable PTSS level. Disease experience of the
children with cancer does not obviously affect the development of PTSS,
while pain experienced during cancer treatment may trigger PTSS. The
parents’ PTSS and depression, family functioning and children’s PTSS are
closely related in families of children with cancer. Supportive
psychological intervention is strongly recommended for families of
children with cancer.