Table 1.

Characteristics of the parents (n = 42) and their ill child (n = 24)

Characteristics	Number (n)	Percentages (%)
Gender parent
Male	18	43
Female	24	57
Age parenta
< 30	2	5
30–40	29	73
> 40	9	23
Marital stage
Married/cohabiting	38	90
Divorced/not cohabiting	4	10
Education
Lowb	5	12
Middlec	15	36
Highd	22	52
Age child (at first interview) (years)
0–1	1e	4e
1–5	13f	54f
5–12	7	29
12–16	2	8
≥ 16	1	4
Child gender
Male	12	50
Female	12	50
Child diagnosis
Non-malignant disease (total)	15	63
Congenital anomalies	11	46
Neurodegenerative disease	2	8
Metabolic disease	2	8
Malignant disease (total)	9	38
Central nervous system tumor	5	21
Bone/soft tissue sarcoma	2	8
Neuroblastoma	1	4
Leukemia	1	4
Time since diagnosis
0–6 months	2	8
6–12 months	3	13
1–2 years	7	29
2–5 years	8	33
> 5 years	4	17
Palliative phase at first interview
Diagnostic phase	0	0
Phase of loss of normality	15	63
Phase of decline	6	25
Dying phase	3	13

Percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding

^aAge of two parents is missing

^bLow: primary school, lower secondary general education, lower vocational education

^cMiddle: higher secondary general education, intermediate vocational education

^dHigh: higher vocational education, university

^eIn one case, the interview took place after the child’s death

^fIn two cases, the interview took place after the child’s death