Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan
Introduction: When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the psychological and social impact on their children can be profound. Teachers play a key role in supporting these children, yet limited research has examined school-based support in Japan. This study aimed to examine the awareness, perceptions...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Sarajevo
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/2812 |
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| _version_ | 1839605324296749056 |
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| author | Yuko Akagawa Taichi Hatta Kaori Osawa Mai Narita Kingo Endo Hideaki Andoh Sachiko Makabe |
| author_facet | Yuko Akagawa Taichi Hatta Kaori Osawa Mai Narita Kingo Endo Hideaki Andoh Sachiko Makabe |
| author_sort | Yuko Akagawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the psychological and social impact on their children can be profound. Teachers play a key role in supporting these children, yet limited research has examined school-based support in Japan. This study aimed to examine the awareness, perceptions, and support practices of elementary school teachers toward children with a parent who has cancer.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Akita City. Demographic data included sex, age, parenting status, teaching years, and cancer/bereavement experiences. Teachers reported support experience and completed items on perception, knowledge, and anxiety. Teachers with support experience provided details about their most memorable case.
Results: Among 500 questionnaires collected, 459 were analyzed. Of these, 270 teachers (54.0%) reported support experience. Support experience was significantly associated with being female, having children, and personal or familial cancer experience.Teachers with support experience showed higher perception, knowledge, and anxiety. Memorable cases involved initial contact with children of newly diagnosed parents. Support included observing behavior, promoting emotional expression.
Conclusion: While teachers actively support affected children, personal factors and greater awareness were linked to increased anxiety. Enhancing teacher training and school–medical collaboration may improve support for children facing parental cancer.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-859aa45288a44ec6bb87b5e1a45e6acf |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2232-7576 1986-8049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | University of Sarajevo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-859aa45288a44ec6bb87b5e1a45e6acf2025-08-01T23:20:46ZengUniversity of SarajevoJournal of Health Sciences2232-75761986-80492025-07-0110.17532/jhsci.2025.2812Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in JapanYuko Akagawa0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-2101Taichi Hatta1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8353-3993Kaori Osawa2Mai Narita3Kingo Endo4Hideaki Andoh5Sachiko Makabe6Department of Nursing, Akita University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Akita, JapanShizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Shizuoka, JapanTokyo Kyosai Hospital, Cancer Consultation Support Center, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of School Education, Shokei Gakuin University, JapanAkita High School, Akita, JapanDepartment of Nursing, Akita University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Akita, Japan; Center of Palliative Care, Akita University Hospital, Akita, JapanDepartment of Nursing, Akita University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Akita, Japan Introduction: When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the psychological and social impact on their children can be profound. Teachers play a key role in supporting these children, yet limited research has examined school-based support in Japan. This study aimed to examine the awareness, perceptions, and support practices of elementary school teachers toward children with a parent who has cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Akita City. Demographic data included sex, age, parenting status, teaching years, and cancer/bereavement experiences. Teachers reported support experience and completed items on perception, knowledge, and anxiety. Teachers with support experience provided details about their most memorable case. Results: Among 500 questionnaires collected, 459 were analyzed. Of these, 270 teachers (54.0%) reported support experience. Support experience was significantly associated with being female, having children, and personal or familial cancer experience.Teachers with support experience showed higher perception, knowledge, and anxiety. Memorable cases involved initial contact with children of newly diagnosed parents. Support included observing behavior, promoting emotional expression. Conclusion: While teachers actively support affected children, personal factors and greater awareness were linked to increased anxiety. Enhancing teacher training and school–medical collaboration may improve support for children facing parental cancer. https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/2812Parental cancerelementary schoolperceptions of supportknowledge of supportanxiety about supportchildren with a parent with cancer |
| spellingShingle | Yuko Akagawa Taichi Hatta Kaori Osawa Mai Narita Kingo Endo Hideaki Andoh Sachiko Makabe Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan Journal of Health Sciences Parental cancer elementary school perceptions of support knowledge of support anxiety about support children with a parent with cancer |
| title | Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan |
| title_full | Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan |
| title_short | Elementary school teachers’ support for children with a parent who has cancer in Japan |
| title_sort | elementary school teachers support for children with a parent who has cancer in japan |
| topic | Parental cancer elementary school perceptions of support knowledge of support anxiety about support children with a parent with cancer |
| url | https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/2812 |
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