Temperament and social behavior in pediatric brain tumor survivors and comparison peers

To examine the role of temperament (i.e., surgency/positive affect, negative affect, and effortful control) in the social behavior of pediatric brain tumor survivors and comparison classmates.

Parent-, peer-, and self-report data were collected for 75 children after treatment for a brain tumor, and 67 comparison classmates. Tests of mediation and moderated mediation were run to examine whether effortful control accounted for group differences in social behavior and whether this indirect effect was moderated by surgency/positive or negative affectivity.

Peers described survivors as lower in Leadership-popularity and higher in Sensitivity-isolation and victimization than comparison classmates. Parent and self-report of surgency/positive affect revealed survivors were lower on this dimension. Survivors were rated by parents as demonstrating less effortful control. Effortful control did not consistently account for group differences in social behavior. There was limited evidence of moderated mediation.

Research on the implications of potential changes in temperament following treatment is warranted.