Health anxiety by proxy: exploring factors that influence parents' worries about their child's health.
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| Title: | Health anxiety by proxy: exploring factors that influence parents' worries about their child's health. |
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| Authors: | Cocks, Francesca (AUTHOR), Davis, Cara (AUTHOR), Peters, Charlotte (AUTHOR), De Nicola, Rita (AUTHOR), Daniels, Jo (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapy. Mar2026, Vol. 54 Issue 1, p47-61. 15p. |
| Subjects: | Children's health, Anxiety, Services for caregivers, Psychological factors, Pediatric oncology, Social support |
| Abstract: | Background: Health anxiety by proxy (HAP) refers to parents' worries about their child's health. Research into HAP is in its infancy, but it is known that the children of those with HAP and the broader family system are affected by these elevated health concerns. Aims: This study aimed to explore factors associated with HAP in parents of children with cancer, and parents of 'well' children, particularly parental health anxiety (HA), social support, and illness characteristics. Method: Cross-sectional online questionnaire design using social media and NHS paediatric oncology services to recruit parents of children with cancer (n =41) and parents of 'well' children (n =79). Results: HAP (but not HA) was significantly higher in parents of children with cancer than those with 'well' children (p <.001). HAP was negatively associated with social support in parents of 'well' children only (p =.002), but both groups demonstrated a positive association between social support and HA (p=.006). Both HA (B=.588; p <.001) and health status of child (B= –30.281; p <.001) were significant independent predictors of HAP (controlling for interactions between group and variables) in a hierarchical regression. Conclusions: Parents of children with cancer have higher rates of HAP (but not HA), with HAP associated with lower levels of social support in both groups. Parental HA and child health status are key to understanding HAP. Further research is needed to establish underlying mechanisms and vulnerability to HAP to inform development of effective interventions for this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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