Journal article
Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Childhood Cancer Survivors
Pediatrics (Evanston), v 100(6), pp 958-964
01 Dec 1997
PMID: 9374564
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objective.
The diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer are extremely stressful experiences, with psychological sequelae which can persist many years after the end of treatment. This study investigated the relative contributions of general anxiety, treatment intensity, medical sequelae of treatment, and the subjective appraisal of life threat and treatment intensity to later posttraumatic stress symptoms, such as intrusive memories, avoidance, and hypervigilance.
Method.
One hundred eighty-six childhood cancer survivors ages 8 through 20 years, off of treatment for more than 1 year, and their parents completed questionnaires. Medical sequelae of treatment and intensity of treatment were rated by a pediatric oncologist.
Results.
Significant, independent predictors of persistent posttraumatic stress symptoms included: 1) the survivor's retrospective subjective appraisal of life threat at the time of treatment, and the degree to which the survivor experienced the treatment as “hard” or “scary”; 2) the child's general level of anxiety; 3) history of other stressful experiences; 4) time since the termination of treatment (negative association); 5) female gender; and 6) family and social support. Mother's perception of treatment and life threat contributed to anxiety and subjective appraisal for the survivor, but did not independently contribute to posttraumatic stress symptoms.
Conclusions.
Symptoms of posttraumatic stress seem to decrease with time, but are persistent in a subset of childhood cancer survivors. Other than time and gender, the predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms are primarily subjective factors (ie, anxiety and subjective appraisal) rather than objective stressors of treatment and medical sequelae.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Childhood Cancer Survivors
- Creators
- Margaret L. Stuber - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLAAnne E. Kazak - Drexel University, College of MedicineKathleen Meeske - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLALamia Barakat - Drexel University, College of MedicineDonald Guthrie - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLAHelen Garnier - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLARobert Pynoos - David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLAAnna Meadows - Drexel University, College of Medicine
- Publication Details
- Pediatrics (Evanston), v 100(6), pp 958-964
- Number of pages
- 7
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:A1997YJ31400009
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-0030666004
- Other Identifier
- 991019168898904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Pediatrics