Table 1 Parent- and children-related characteristics (N = 56) and comparison of the parents of children with cancer (N = 18) and those of children with a non-cancer disease (N = 38)

Relation to the child, n (%)

Mother

42 (75)

10 (55.6)

32 (84.2)

.044* ^a

Father

14 (25)

8 (44.4)

6 (15.8)

44.4 (7.5);29–57

47.2 (6.1);37–55

43.1 (7.7);29–57

.051 ^b

Age in Groups, n (%)

29–39

16 (28.6)

3 (16.7)

13 (34.2)

.183 ^a

40–49

24 (42.9)

7 (38.9)

17 (44.7)

50–59

16 (28.6)

8 (44.4)

8 (21.2)

Marital status, n (%)

Single

3 (5.4)

0 (0)

3 (7.9)

.040* ^a

Married

42 (75)

11 (61.1)

31 (81.6)

Divorced or widowed

11 (19.6)

7 (38.9)

4 (10.5)

Partnership, n (%)

Yes

45 (80.4)

12 (66.7)

33 (86.8)

.224 ^a

No

8 (14.3)

4 (22.2)

4 (10.5)

Missing

3 (5.4)

2 (11.1)

1 (2.6)

Religion, n (%)

Yes

37 (66.1)

11 (61.1)

26 (68.4)

.763 ^a

No

19 (33.9)

7 (38.9)

12 (31.6)

Place of Birth, n (%)

Germany

47 (83.9)

14 (77.8)

33 (86.8)

.205 ^a

Other

7 (12.5)

4 (22.2)

3 (7.9)

Missing

2 (3.6)

0 (0)

2 (5.3)

Level of Education, n (%)

ISCED Low

2 (3.6)

1 (5.6)

1 (2.6)

.188 ^b

ISCED Middle

22 (39.3)

9 (50)

13 (34.2)

ISCED High

32 (57.1)

8 (44.4)

24 (63.2)

 Child gender, n (%)

Female

31 (55.4)

8 (44.4)

23 (60.5)

.388 ^a

Male

25 (44.6)

10 (55.6)

15 (39.5)

7.3 (6.9);0–19

11.9 (5.4);2–19

5.0 (6.5);0–19

.001** ^b

 Child age at death categorized (in years), n (%)

≤3

27 (48.2)

2 (11.1)

25 (65.8)

.001** ^a

4–7

4 (7.1)

2 (11.1)

2 (5.3)

8–11

7 (12.5)

5 (27.8)

2 (5.3)

12–15

7 (12.5)

2 (11.1)

5 (13.2)

> 15

11 (19.6)

7 (38.9)

4 (10.5)

3.2 (2.2);0.5–8

3 (1.9);0.5–6

3.2 (2.3);0.5–8

.707 ^b

Time since death in years, categorized, n (%)

< 1

6 (10.7)

2 (11.1)

4 (10.5)

1.00 ^a

1–4

33 (58.9)

11 (61.1)

22 (57.9)

≥5

17 (30.4)

5 (27.8)

12 (31.6)

Disease, n (%)

Cancer

18 (32.1)

–

–

–

Non-cancer

38 (67.9)

–

–

Cancer diagnosis, n (%)

Leukaemia

–

3 (16.7)

–

–

Brain tumor

–

9 (50.0)

–

Solid Tumor

–

6 (33.3)

–

Non-cancer diagnosis, n (%)

Conditions, where premature death in inevitable, with intensive treatment (e.g., muscular dystrophy)

–

–

5 (13.2)

–

Progressive disease without curative treatment options (e.g., MPS, NCL)

–

–

10 (26.3)

Irreversible non-progressive conditions, causing severe neurological disorder

–

–

23 (60.5)

Siblings, n (%)

0

6 (10.7)

1 (5.6)

5 (13.2)

.089 ^b

1

26 (46.4)

12 (66.7)

14 (36.8)

2

17 (30.4)

4 (22.2)

13 (34.2)

3

6 (10.7)

1 (5.6)

5 (13.2)

Missing

1 (1.8)

0 (0)

1 (2.6)