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Stress, social support and negative affectivity in children with newly diagnosed cancer: a prospective transactional
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, USA.
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Pediatric cancer patients
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Pediatric cancer diagnosis presents significant adversity.
- Identifying risk factors for maladjustment is crucial for early intervention.
- Understanding individual differences in adjustment is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate perceived stress and social support as predictors of negative affectivity in pediatric cancer patients.
- To examine these predictors concurrently and prospectively over time.
- To inform cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies for improved child adjustment.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory design utilizing hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
- Longitudinal assessment of negative affectivity at 1, 6, and 9 months post-diagnosis.
- Focus on perceived stress and social support as key variables.
Main Results:
- Perceived stress and social support demonstrated direct and independent effects on negative affectivity.
- These effects were most pronounced at the 9-month follow-up interval.
- Findings highlight the dynamic interplay of stress and support in adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Perceived stress and social support are significant predictors of negative affectivity in pediatric cancer.
- Cognitive-behavioral interventions can leverage these factors to enhance child adjustment.
- Addressing psychological needs is vital during cancer treatment and reintegration phases.
Abstract:
Conceptually-driven investigations on the potentially modifiable predictors of individual differences among children with newly-diagnosed cancer may facilitate the identification of pediatric cancer patients at risk for maladjustment during the profound adversity associated with this life-threatening disease and aversive biomedical treatment. Within a risk and resistance theoretical framework, perceived stress and social support were investigated concurrently and prospectively within an exploratory design as predictors of negative affectivity (anxiety and depressive symptoms composite construct) in newly-diagnosed pediatric cancer patients at Time 1 (within one month after diagnosis), Time 2 (6 months postdiagnosis), and Time 3 (9 months postdiagnosis). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis findings indicate that perceived stress and social support have direct and independent effects on negative affectivity principally at the 9-month time interval. These findings are discussed in terms of the cognitive-behavioral treatment implications for enhancing child adjustment during the transition from the initial cancer diagnosis and aversive biomedical treatment to subsequent school and social reintegration.