Psychosocial interventions targeting parenting distress among parents with cancer – A systematic review and narrative synthesis of available interventions

Balancing having cancer and parenting a major stressor, and may result in parenting distress, negatively affecting the whole family. To provide adequate support, knowledge of existing psychosocial interventions are crucial to guide future interventions. This study aimed to describe available psychosocial interventions for parents with cancer and dependent children (<18 years). We conducted a systematic review, and four databases were searched from January 2000 to March 2023. Thirty studies were included, reporting on 22 psychosocial interventions for parents with cancer. They aimed to improve different aspects of parenting distress, and included psychoeducation and communication strategies. Interventions were beneficial to and acceptable among parents, but only a few had been evaluated. The study quality was, overall, assessed as moderate. The results of this review highlight the diversity of available psychosocial interventions for parents with cancer and the outcomes on parenting distress, as well as methodological challenges. • Available psychosocial interventions are heterogeneous regarding design and content. • Content include psychoeducation, skill building and communication strategies. • Psychosocial interventions can, or may improve many aspects of parenting distress. • Few interventions have been formally evaluated, often due to methodological issues. • Successful interventions are: brief, meaningful, and delivered in a convenient way.