Impact of Pediatric Leukemia on Maternal Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity

BACKGROUND Parents are profoundly affected by a child's cancer diagnosis. The study aimed to evaluate anxiety, depression, sleep quality and physical activity of mothers of children with leukemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 57 mothers of children with leukemia (91% lymphoblastic, 9% myeloid). The participants completed a questionnaire created for this study on basic sociodemographic data, Euro Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS The mean raw score of the STAI (sheet X-1) was 43.91±10.44. Converted into sten (standardized 1-10 scores), the mean age of the study group was 5.45±2.03. The results of the questionnaire assessing depression symptom severity (BDI) was 14.25±9.11 in the study group, and the physical activity of the respondents, measured by the IPAQ, was 2010.82 ± 2668.03 metabolic equivalent (MET) units. Physical activity was insufficient in 36.8% of respondents, sufficient in 35.09%, and high in 26.32%. According to PSQI, 36.84% of respondents had good sleep quality and 63.16% had poor sleep quality. The analysis found strong correlations between BDI score and EQ-5D (0.72; P<0.05), BDI and daytime dysfunction (PSQI subscale) (0.65; P<0.05), BDI and EQ-5D pain/discomfort (0.61; P<0.05), and BDI and EQ-5D anxiety/depression (0.61; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Mothers of children diagnosed with leukemia tend to have poor mental health, including decreased quality of life, increased anxiety, depressive symptoms, and poor sleep quality, regardless of physical activity level.