Categorical characteristics of parenting concerns and their influencing factors in young and middle-aged breast cancer patients: a latent profile analysis

Abstract This study explored the different categories of parenting concerns and their influencing factors in young and middle-aged breast cancer patients. 490 young and middle-aged breast cancer patients were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Shandong Province, China. The survey instruments comprised the General Information Questionnaire, Parenting Concerns Questionnaire, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Lubben Social Network Scale 6. Latent profile analysis identified distinct categories of parenting concerns. Chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance were utilized for univariate analysis. Multinomial logistic regression identified factors influencing category membership. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct latent categories of parenting concerns: the low concern/concerns about children’s fathers group, the moderate concern/concerns about children group, and the high concern group. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that per capita monthly household income, education level, work status, medical insurance type, type of surgery, primary caregivers for minor children, illness perception, confrontation, family network, and friend network significantly influenced latent category membership (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated heterogeneity in parenting concerns among young and middle-aged breast cancer patients. These findings underscore the value of latent profile analysis in discerning distinct patient subgroups. We suggest that clinicians develop and implement targeted psychosocial interventions aligned with these specific profiles to address parenting concerns.