Feasibility of Psychological Intervention among Individuals with Parental Cancer

The present study is an intervention study in which the participants shall be given questionnaires to assess their levels of death anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty and psychological hardiness; after this, a three session psychological intervention would be done. after that the questionnaires would be filled again, to get a measure of pre and post intervention scores on the basis of the intervention. individuals with parental cancer are vulnerable to several mental health problems, with questioning of one’s own mortality. individuals may or may not be vocal about it, yet the element of death seeps into the layers of their mind, the moment they hear their parent have been diagnosed with cancer. Genetically loaded disease makes them apprehensive. individuals are aware of the fact that diseases like this may have a genetic component, or may have passing thoughts like, “What if this happens to me?”; cognitions like this do make children with parental cancer fearful and may give rise to several psychopathology. Talking of death and related fears is a taboo in several cultures. One learns directly or indirectly to silence these thoughts as most often children are taught to “Think positive”, yet the very concerns of the children remain unattended to. It is important to speak about these concerns, for existential concerns, as the uncertainty that such diseases like cancer brings with it can be very intolerable, hence affecting them as well. Amidst the physical disease of the patient, healthcare professionals lose sight of the mental wounds of their children. Amidst the rising cases and the increasing number of children having to experience their parents being diagnosed with cancer, is a tough time for them as well. Hence addressing this issue has become the need of the hour. Young adulthood is a transitioning period that comes with its own set of challenges, with regard to developing one’s own identity, forming career and relationships, with need for support and guidance of parents as well. During this stage, ways of dealing with parental cancer need to be built. For, in the current hospital settings, although the issues related to immediate family members are discussed, but there is a lack of action for this population, who needs care and support as well, that goes unnoticed by health professionals. hence, the need arises to address their grievances and provide basic coping skills to deal with the stressful life circumstance at hand. Finally holistic approach not just at an individual level, but also, on a familial level is needed; meaning the biopsychosocial approach that we follow must not only be limited to an individual level, but also be practiced at a larger level.