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Family functioning predictors of adjustment in children with newly diagnosed cancer: a prospective analysis

J W Varni1, E R Katz, R Colegrove

  • 1University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, USA.

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|March 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Family functioning, specifically cohesion and expressiveness, significantly predicts psychological and social adjustment in children newly diagnosed with cancer. These factors can help identify children at risk for adjustment problems.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Child Psychology
  • Family Systems

Background:

  • Identifying modifiable predictors of adjustment in pediatric cancer patients is crucial for early intervention.
  • A risk and resistance conceptual model guides the investigation of family functioning's impact on child adjustment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate family functioning as a concurrent and prospective predictor of adjustment in newly-diagnosed pediatric cancer patients.
  • To examine the relationship between family dynamics and child adjustment over a 9-month period post-diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study design with data collection at three time points: 1 month, 6 months, and 9 months post-diagnosis.
  • Assessment of family functioning dimensions (cohesion, expressiveness) and child adjustment (psychological, social).

Main Results:

  • Family relationship dimensions, particularly cohesion and expressiveness, were consistent predictors of child adjustment.
  • These family factors demonstrated a significant association with both psychological and social adjustment outcomes over time.

Conclusions:

  • Enhancing family cohesion and expressiveness may improve psychological and social adjustment in pediatric cancer patients.
  • Family functioning is a key target for interventions aimed at supporting children newly diagnosed with cancer.

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