Frontiers in Medical Science Research, 2025, 7(5); doi: 10.25236/FMSR.2025.070512.
Qianyu Zhang, Liping Wang, Jinghan Yang, Weichao Liu
School of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311100, China
A comprehensive overview of parenting concerns among reproductive-age women with breast cancer is presented, encompassing their definition, available assessment instruments, associated factors, and existing intervention approaches. This review seeks to raise awareness among healthcare providers and to establish a theoretical basis for the future design of targeted supportive care interventions addressing these specific psychosocial needs.
Breast Cancer; Parenting Concerns; Patients; Review
Qianyu Zhang, Liping Wang, Jinghan Yang, Weichao Liu. Research Advances on Parenting Concerns in Breast Cancer Patients of Reproductive Age. Frontiers in Medical Science Research (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 5: 103-108. https://doi.org/10.25236/FMSR.2025.070512.
[1] Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries [J]. CA Cancer J Clin, 2024, 74(3): 229-63.
[2] XING Naifang, YAO Dan, WANG Lushan, et al. Experience of fertility decision-making in women of childbearing age with breast cancer: a Meta-synthesis [J]. Chinese Nursing Management, 2023, 23(05): 719-24.
[3] Huang X, O'Connor M, Hu Y, et al. Communication About Maternal Breast Cancer With Children: A Qualitative Study [J]. Cancer Nurs, 2017, 40(6): 445-53.
[4] ZHANG Wenjie, SHI Qiwei, LONG Ruyi, et al. Exploration of the Parenting Stress and Influencing Factors of Infants and Young Children in Families Against the Background of the Three-child Policy [J]. Journal of Chengdu Normal University, 2024, 40(02): 84-94.
[5] Hernandez A, Reyes C L, Garcia I, et al. "I Felt Defeated. I Felt Helpless": Social Determinants of Health Influencing the Cancer Survivorship of a Young Latina Mother [J]. J Cancer Ther, 2022, 13(7): 440-9.
[6] Kim K W, Lopresti M, Graff S L, et al. Fulfilling the Role of a Parent While Undergoing Treatment for Cancer: A Review of the Literature and the Potential Impact of Childcare Support on Cancer Outcomes [J]. Am J Clin Oncol, 2024, 47(9): 445-7.
[7] Park E M, Deal A M, Check D K, et al. Parenting concerns, quality of life, and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer [J]. Psychooncology, 2016, 25(8): 942-8.
[8] Tavares R, Brandão T, Matos P M. The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire: A validation study with Portuguese parents with cancer [J]. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2020, 29(6): e13315.
[9] KANG Tingting, ZHENG Wei, GU Wenyan, et al. Chinese Version of Parenting Concerns Questionnaire among Cancer Patients: Translation, Validity and Reliability [J]. Military Nursing, 2021, 38(11): 33-6+80.
[10] Park E M, Tan X, Stephenson E M, et al. Psychometric Analysis of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire in Women With Metastatic Cancer [J]. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2018, 55(2): 451-7.
[11] Loiselle C G, Santerre-Theil A. Parenting concerns, parental identity and functional status influence medical treatment decisions of patients with advanced cancer [J]. Evid Based Nurs, 2017, 20(4): 114.
[12] Hymovich D P. Child-rearing concerns of parents with cancer [J]. Oncol Nurs Forum, 1993, 20(9): 1355-60.
[13] Muriel A C, Moore C W, Baer L, et al. Measuring psychosocial distress and parenting concerns among adults with cancer: the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire [J]. Cancer, 2012, 118(22): 5671-8.
[14] Meiyan Qian. Development and Preliminary Application of Parenting Concerns Scale for Breast Cancer Patients [D]. Yangzhou University,2024.
[15] LIU Jie, WANG Haiyan, CHEN Hongmei, et al. Parenting concerns for minor children and their influencing factors among breast cancer patients [J]. Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing, 2024, 40(11): 846-52.
[16] DUAN Suwei, LONG Aifang, DOU Jingjing, et al. Status and influencing factors of self-advocacy in young women with breast cancer [J]. Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing, 2023, 39(28): 2218-24.
[17] HE Li, HU Luhong, CUI Jinrui, et al. Status and influencing factors of self-advocacy in breast cancer patients with chemotherapy [J]. Chinese Journal of Nursing, 2023, 58(07): 788-93.
[18] KANG Tingting. Development and Preliminary Application of the Chinese Version of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire of Cancer Patients [D]. Zhengzhou University, 2022.
[19] Arès I, Lebel S, Bielajew C. The impact of motherhood on perceived stress, illness intrusiveness and fear of cancer recurrence in young breast cancer survivors over time [J]. Psychol Health, 2014, 29(6): 651-70.
[20] Wu Xiuxia. Path analysis of cancer-related fatigue and its influencing factors in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy [D]. North China University of Science and Technology, 2022.
[21] Lewis F M, Zahlis E H, Shands M E, et al. A pilot feasibility study of a group-delivered cancer parenting program: Enhancing Connections-Group [J]. J Psychosoc Oncol, 2021, 39(1): 1-16.
[22] Inhestern L, Bergelt C. When a mother has cancer: strains and resources of affected families from the mother's and father's perspective - a qualitative study [J]. BMC Womens Health, 2018, 18(1): 72.
[23] CHEN Wei, QIN Nan, LI Hui. Research advances in dyadic coping of cancer patients and their spouses [J]. Journal of Nursing (China), 2022, 29(11): 31-5.
[24] Tavares R, Brandão T, Matos P M. Mothers with breast cancer: A mixed-method systematic review on the impact on the parent-child relationship [J]. Psychooncology, 2018, 27(2): 367-75.
[25] Inhestern L, Johannsen L M, Bergelt C. Families Affected by Parental Cancer: Quality of Life, Impact on Children and Psychosocial Care Needs [J]. Front Psychiatry, 2021, 12: 765327.
[26] Babore A, Bramanti S M, Lombardi L, et al. The role of depression and emotion regulation on parenting stress in a sample of mothers with cancer [J]. Support Care Cancer, 2019, 27(4): 1271-7.
[27] Hailey C E, Yopp J M, Deal A M, et al. Communication with children about a parent's advanced cancer and measures of parental anxiety and depression: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study [J]. Support Care Cancer, 2018, 26(1): 287-95.
[28] ZHOU Aibao, YUE Hongyun, ZHANG Baihong. Psychological Stress and Clinical Intervention in Events of Cancer Diagnosis [J]. Medicine & Philosophy, 2019, 40(23): 46-50.
[29] Melchior H, Büscher C, Thorenz A, et al. Self-efficacy and fear of cancer progression during the year following diagnosis of breast cancer [J]. Psychooncology, 2013, 22(1): 39-45.
[30] Romare Strandh M, Hovén E, Sörensdotter R, et al. The Complexity of Being a Parent in the Hospital and a Patient at Home: A Qualitative Study on Parenting Concerns and Challenges Among Parents With Cancer [J]. Cancer Nurs, 2023.
[31] Ngai F W, Wai-Chi Chan S, Holroyd E. Translation and validation of a chinese version of the parenting sense of competence scale in chinese mothers [J]. Nurs Res, 2007, 56(5): 348-54.
[32] Zhu P, Ji Q, Liu X, et al. "I'm walking on eggshells": challenges faced by mothers with breast cancer in interacting with adolescent daughters [J]. BMC Womens Health, 2022, 22(1): 385.
[33] MENG Wei, WANG Wen-jia, HE Ling-ling. Study on Correlation Between Information Demand and Sense of Security of Patients with Ovarian Cancer [J]. Medicine and Society, 2018, 31(03): 38-9+43.
[34] Usui Y, Kosugi K, Nishiguchi Y, et al. Parenting experiences of cancer patients with minor children and their conversations about the possibility of death: a cross-sectional web-based survey for an online cancer community [J]. Support Care Cancer, 2022, 30(9): 7715-20.
[35] Li J L, Ye Q, Liu N. Cancer parents' experiences of parenting concerns about minor children: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies [J]. Int J Nurs Stud Adv, 2024, 6: 100210.
[36] Kosugi K, Nishiguchi Y, Miura T, et al. Association Between Loneliness and the Frequency of Using Online Peer Support Groups Among Cancer Patients With Minor Children: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Study [J]. J Pain Symptom Manage, 2021, 61(5): 955-62.
[37] Walker A J, Lewis F M, Al-Mulla H, et al. Being Fully Present: Gains Patients Attribute to a Telephone-Delivered Parenting Program for Child-Rearing Mothers With Cancer [J]. Cancer Nurs, 2018, 41(4): E12-e7.
[38] Stiffler D, Haase J, Hosei B, et al. Parenting experiences with adolescent daughters when mothers have breast cancer [J]. Oncol Nurs Forum, 2008, 35(1): 113-20.
[39] Lewis F M, Brandt P A, Cochrane B B, et al. The Enhancing Connections Program: a six-state randomized clinical trial of a cancer parenting program [J]. J Consult Clin Psychol, 2015, 83(1): 12-23.