Family Structure and Functioning According to a Group of Mothers with Children Diagnosed with Cancer

The main objective of this research is to analyze the family structure and functioning according to a group of families with children diagnosed with cancer from the information provided by their mothers. The authors interviewed forty mothers of oncological patients aged between 4 and 13 years about the structure and family functioning during the disease process. The following standardized assessment instruments were used: Family Environment Scale (FES), Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scales (FACES III), Family Functioning Style Scale (FFSS), and the Family Satisfaction by Adjectives Scale (SFSA). The differences between the general population and mothers of children with cancer were analyzed through subscales describing the family social climate, factors and dimensions of cohesion and family adaptation, and family functioning style. Overall, the results showed a predominant pattern of family structure adapted to the disease. Thus, the study confirms the presence of family factors and variables of a functional nature despite the radical transformation of family life involved in the adaptation to the disease.