Stress Management Intervention for Mothers of Children With Cancer

Inclusion criteria

• biologic, adoptive, or legal guardian mothers of children (birth to 17 years) who are within 6 weeks of being newly diagnosed with any cancer, with the exception of a central nervous system (CNS) cancer or early stage lymphoma, recruited from the Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP)
• no reported clinical history of psychotic or bipolar illness, neurological disorder (stroke, transient ischemic attacks, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis) or chronic disease known to influence immune function, including cardiovascular disease, cancer [within the past 2 years], or autoimmune disease
• not taking medications that might alter responses to questionnaires or indices of immune function (including major sedatives or glucocorticoid, anti-inflammatory, anti-retroviral, or immunosuppressant medication)
• fluency in English (i.e., have commonly used English in everyday speaking and reading for at least 10 years)
• is at least 18 years of age
• not working nightshifts exclusively.

Exclusion criteria

• mothers of children with CNS cancers due to our belief that a psychosocial intervention tailored more specifically to the unique stressors inherent in this diagnosis is warranted
• mothers of children with early stage lymphomas will be excluded because of their child's brief/mild treatment course
• mothers whose child is older than 17 years will not be eligible; the upper age limit (17 years) was established based on referral patterns at the CHP hematology/oncology department.