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Systematic Review: Associations Between Family Functioning and Child Adjustment After Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis: A

Marieke Van Schoors1, Line Caes2, Naomi B Knoble3

  • 1Department of Experimental, Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|February 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Positive family functioning, including cohesion and support, is linked to better child adjustment in pediatric cancer patients and their siblings. This highlights the importance of family dynamics during childhood cancer survivorship.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Child Psychology
  • Family Systems Theory

Background:

  • Pediatric cancer diagnosis significantly impacts child adjustment.
  • Family functioning is a critical environmental factor influencing child outcomes.
  • Limited synthesis exists on the specific associations between family dynamics and adjustment in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between family functioning and child adjustment (patients and siblings) post-pediatric cancer diagnosis.
  • To quantify the strength and direction of this relationship.
  • To identify specific aspects of family functioning that correlate with child adjustment.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search across major databases (Web of Science, Pubmed, Cochrane, PsycInfo, Embase).
  • Screening of 5,563 articles, with 30 included in meta-analyses.
  • Random-effects meta-analyses using Pearson's r correlations to assess effect sizes.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant positive association was found between family functioning and child adjustment (r = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.13–0.24).
  • Higher levels of family cohesion, expressiveness, and support were linked to better child adjustment.
  • Increased family conflict was associated with poorer child adjustment outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Family functioning is demonstrably associated with the adjustment of both pediatric cancer patients and their siblings.
  • While the association is significant, limitations in current research hinder definitive conclusions on effect size and moderators.
  • Further research is needed to explore moderating factors and refine understanding of these crucial family dynamics.
Abstract

Keywords:
adaptationchildhood cancerfamilymeta-analysissystematic review

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