Psychosocial Functioning of Young Adolescent and Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Overview

Journal Support Care Cancer

Specialties Critical Care
Oncology

Date 2007 Jun 15

PMID 17562085

Citations 15

Authors

Marina Servitzoglou

Danai Papadatou

Ioannis Tsiantis

Helen Vasilatou-Kosmidis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Goals Of Work: The present study aimed to assess the psychosocial well-being of Greek adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer and, in particular, self-esteem, anxiety, coping strategies, and social functioning.

Patients And Methods: The sample comprised 103 Greek childhood cancer survivors and 135 healthy controls. The Battle Culture-free Self-esteem Inventory (BCSEI), the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Lazarus and Folkman Ways of Coping, and 36-item short-form instruments were used along with The Questionnaire for the Quality of Life.

Main Results: Survivors scored higher than controls on all STAI subscales, but on State, the difference was statistically significant only for female adults, while on the Trait subscale, for the entire group. Survivors scored lower on Personal and higher on Lie subscale of BCSEI, by comparison to controls. When coping with stressful events, the use of self-blame strategies and wishful thinking were more frequent among controls, while distancing strategies more common among survivors.

Conclusions: The long-term psychological functioning of Greek survivors of childhood cancer is satisfactory, with emotional difficulties, such as increased anxiety and lower self-esteem, receding over time. Survivors experience personal growth and mature through trauma as they develop a positive view of the impact that the cancer experience has upon their life.

Citing Articles

Recommendations for the surveillance of education and employment outcomes in survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer: A report from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Devine K, Christen S, Mulder R, Brown M, Ingerski L, Mader L Cancer. 2022; 128(13):2405-2419.

PMID: 35435238 PMC: 9321726. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34215.

Growing up after childhood cancer: maturity and life satisfaction in young adulthood.

Dattilo T, Olshefski R, Nahata L, Hansen-Moore J, Gerhardt C, Lehmann V Support Care Cancer. 2021; 29(11):6661-6668.

PMID: 33961121 PMC: 8464568. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06260-3.

Profiles and predictors of resilient functioning in youths with pediatric cancer history.

Okado Y, Long A, Phipps S J Psychosoc Oncol. 2021; 39(4):493-508.

PMID: 33480312 PMC: 9265224. DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2020.1844843.

"Every part of me has changed"-shared lived experiences of adolescents living with cancer in Zambia.

Sibulwa S, Chansa-Kabali T, Hapunda G Health Psychol Open. 2019; 6(1):2055102919833537.

PMID: 30915226 PMC: 6429662. DOI: 10.1177/2055102919833537.

Development and validation of self- and caregiver-report of a distress screening tool for pediatric cancer survivors.

Yoon S, Chung K, Han J, Hahn S, Kim S, Lyu C Support Care Cancer. 2019; 27(11):4179-4187.

PMID: 30805727 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-04708-1.

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