Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mothers with breast cancer often face challenges balancing caregiving and parenting roles, and psychological distress may adversely affect parenting attitudes and the parent-child relationship. Evidence on factors associated with parenting attitudes among Japanese mothers with breast cancer remains limited.

OBJECTIVE: To examine parenting attitudes and identify associated factors among Japanese mothers with breast cancer raising children younger than 18 years.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted among 200 Japanese patients with breast cancer raising children younger than 18 years, recruited from an opt-in online research panel. Data on demographics, family characteristics, parent-child relationship difficulties, quality of life (FACT-B), and parenting attitudes (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire) were analyzed using univariate and multiple linear regression analyses.

RESULTS: The mean participant age was 47.5 years; 57.5% were diagnosed at stage I, and 87.0% had disclosed their diagnosis to their children. Mean FACT-B and parenting attitude scores were 98.0 and 132.6, respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis, younger child age (β = –0.22, P = .033) and higher FACT-B score (β = 0.40, P < .001) were significantly associated with more favorable parenting attitudes.

CONCLUSION: Higher maternal quality of life was associated with more favorable parenting attitudes, and older child age was associated with lower parenting attitude scores. Health care providers should routinely assess maternal quality of life and parenting concerns and tailor support to the child’s developmental stage.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.