Mothers' responses during the child's stem cell transplantation: pilot study.

Purpose: Examine the relationships between the mothers' anxiety and depressive symptomatology and resources (problem-solving orientation and style, coping, and social support) during their child's stem cell transplantation (SCT).

Method: A prospective correlation design was used. A convenience sample of 23 mothers completed State-Anxiety Inventory, Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised, and Stress Support Scale at the child's admission and 10 days after the stem cells infusion.

Findings: Significant relationships were found between mothers' negative problem-solving orientation and emotional responses, coping and depressive symptomatology, and between social support and emotional responses but in an inverse direction.

Conclusion: Health care professionals need to increase their understanding of mothers' stress responses during the SCT. These responses may affect the mother/child interactions and the mother's ability to provide childcare. A psychosocial intervention that includes these resources may assist the mothers during their child's SCT.