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Pediatric Cancer Survivorship: Impact Upon Hair Cortisol Concentration and Family Functioning

Sarah J Erickson1, Sarah Dinces2, Nicole Kubinec3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Logan Hall, University of New Mexico, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA. erickson@unm.edu.

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
|February 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Long-term stress reactivity, measured by hair cortisol, is linked to family functioning in pediatric cancer survivors. Higher parent stress hormone levels predicted lower child stress hormone levels and altered family dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Psychology
  • Pediatric Oncology

Background:

  • Pediatric cancer survivorship presents unique challenges to family systems.
  • Understanding long-term stress markers like hair cortisol is crucial for guiding survivorship care.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a key stress response system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity (hair cortisol) and family functioning in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • To explore differences in hair cortisol and family functioning between survivors and controls.
  • To identify predictors of child hair cortisol within the family context.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Recruited pediatric cancer survivors (n=26) and controls (n=53).
  • Measured child and parent hair cortisol (cortisol concentration; CORTHAIR) and parent-reported family functioning using the Family Environment Scale (FES).

Main Results:

  • Child CORTHAIR did not differ between survivors and controls, but treatment severity correlated with child CORTHAIR in survivors.
  • Child and parent CORTHAIR were positively correlated.
  • Parental CORTHAIR was inversely associated with FES Organization, and child CORTHAIR was inversely associated with FES Independence.

Conclusions:

  • Preliminary evidence suggests a link between a stress biomarker (child CORTHAIR) and family functioning in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • Parental stress hormone levels and family environment characteristics are associated with child stress reactivity.
  • Findings may inform clinical practice and future research in pediatric cancer survivorship.

Keywords:
Childhood cancer survivorsFamily environment Scale (FES)Family functioningHair cortisol concentration (CORTHAIR)Pediatric oncology

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