Social support and childhood cancer survivors: A systematic review (2006-2022)

Research has indicated that social support may play a protective role in the face of stress and help children and adolescents cope with the demands and challenges they face on a daily basis during their cancer journey. However, social support tends to reduce over time as survivors overcome their illness despite its ongoing importance even years after treatment has finished. The current review aimed to systematically examine existing evidence on social support in child and adolescent cancer survivors.

Five databases (PsychINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science) were searched systematically to identify quantitative studies which explored social support from the perspective of child and adolescent cancer survivors aged 18 years or younger.

A total of 10 studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Findings from the review indicate that family and friends, particularly parents, are important sources of social support for survivors. Social support was positively related to posttraumatic growth, school re-entry and physical activity, and negatively related to psychological stress, depression, anxiety and stress. Furthermore, findings relating to gender, age and group differences were mixed. A number of methodological concerns were identified in the reviewed studies including small sample sizes, as well as a lack of consistency in the measurement of social support.

Future studies of social support for child and adolescent cancer survivors need to address these shortcomings to help inform care and support interventions promoting social support in survivors.