Age differences in perceived social support by paediatric haematopoietic progenitor cell transplant patients: a...

To describe longitudinally different sources of perceived social support by children and adolescents who undergo haematopoietic progenitor cell transplant (HPCT).

Thirty-six (20 males, 16 females) survivors of paediatric HPCT, aged 8-18 years (Mean = 11.73), were assessed pre-HPCT and 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-HPCT. Survivors were compared with siblings (n = 22) during the last assessment. The Social Support Scale for Children (SSSC), a self-report measure, provided scores on perceived social support from parents, teachers, friends and classmates.

Throughout the 2 years post-HPCT, perceived social support from all sources was generally higher for survivors than for population norms. Over time, both children and adolescents reported higher social support from parents than the normative values. Over time, children perceived higher support from teachers than did adolescents, whereas adolescents' perceived social support from classmates increased but children's decreased. Survivors and siblings did not differ significantly in their perceived social support 2 years post-BMT.

This exploratory study suggests that perceived parental support is equally important for children and adolescents but classmate and teacher social support varies with age. These developmental differences have important clinical implications for the care of these patients.