This study examined potential sex differences in how parents cope and adjust when a child is diagnosed with cancer. Seventeen couples whose child had cancer and was in active treatment a follow-up were compared with 32 couples whose child had the flu. The findings did not support the main hypotheses that (1) fathers of cancer patients would use more maladaptive coping strategies and different social support systems than mothers and would be less anxious and depressed and (2) both parents would be more psychological distressed than the controls. No significant sex-specific differences were observed in the experimental group: the parents appeared to be adjusting well and coping appropriately but were more anxious than the controls. Overall, mothers in both groups reported more engaged coping styles, slightly more depression, and more use of social support than did fathers. The results provide guidelines