Objective: This study examined psychosocial risk and aspects of problem-solving associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and anxiety in parents of childhood cancer survivors. Method: Parents of childhood cancer survivors, 12-19 months from the conclusion of cancer-directed treatment, were administered measures of HRQOL, anxiety, psychosocial risk, and problem-solving. Results: Generally, parents reported HRQOL and anxiety within normal limits; however, a small subset of parents reported at risk levels of HRQOL and anxiety. Mothers reported greater anxiety than fathers. Other demographic and medical variables were not related to study measures. Regression analyses revealed that aspects of problem-solving accounted for additional variance in HRQOL and anxiety, over and above psychosocial risk. Conclusions: Psychosocial risk and aspects of problem-solving, particularly negative problem orientation, were significantly associated with parents HRQOL and anxiety during the off-therapy period. Implementing interventions that target problem-solving would likely benefit parents and families of childhood cancer survivors.
