Informal Social Support: A Collaborative Stress Management Initiative for Mothers of Cancer Children

Diagnosis of childhood cancer represents one of the most sever stressors for the children’s mothers. There islimited evidence of research directed toward assisting mothers of cancer children to develop strategies to copewith the complex experiences associated with the diagnosis of their children at the time of the diagnosis, andbefore their reaction to stress recognized. The current study is a pilot project sought to investigate the potential ofa new type of initiative based on the idea of providing the mothers of cancer children with informal socialsupport, were the support initiated in collaboration between the academic and clinical staffs. The informal socialsupport initiative program started at the time of child diagnosis before the patient and patient families requestedor even the physician ordered.Surveys results, along with discussion of the potential implications for reducing stress and anticipatory stressamong mothers of cancer children by informal social support are presented.