The importance of psychosocial support for families in which a child is diagnosed with cancer

The aim of this study was to build a comprehensive understanding of the needs for psychosocial support in families in which a child has been diagnosed with cancer. Specialised medical care for cancer patients is very effective in Finland. However, medical care alone does not attend to the wide range of psychosocial needs, that the child and the parents face during serious illness. Therefore, families resorted also to their own networks for additional support. This study utilises Bourdieu's theory of social capital as its main theoretical background. Nineteen Finnish families, in which a child (aged 1–17 years) had been diagnosed with cancer, signed up for the study. We encouraged both parents to participate, either together or separately. Both parents participated from four families, only the mother participated from fourteen families and only the father participated from one family. Semi-structured face-to-face or telephone interviews were conducted in 2023. A narrative analysis method was utilised. Caring for the sick child was at the centre of parents’ attention. The situation caused stress and demanded mental and other resources. Preliminary findings show that families differed in how they coped and in how they were able to mobilise their social capital for psychosocial support such as help in daily chores and discussing difficult topics. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the needs for psychosocial support in families who face paediatric cancer. The results can be used in developing a more holistic support framework for families in which a child is seriously ill.