A Comparison of Emotional Indicators and Depressive Symptom Levels of School-Age Children With and Without Cancer

Abstract

This study aims to compare the emotional indicators and depressive symptom levels of 6- to 12-year-old children with and without cancer. The sample included 20 children with cancer and 20 healthy children of similar ages and gender. Data were collected by using the Child Introduction Form, Children's Depression Inventory, the Human Figure Drawing test, and children's drawings. The results showed that the depressive symptom levels of children with cancer were significantly higher than those of healthy children. Impulsivity, mistrust, and anger were observed significantly more in children with cancer (P < .05). Although anxiety was equal in the two groups, shyness was observed more in the cancer group, though the difference was not significant (P > .05). The emotional indicators of both groups of children did not have an effect on their depression scores.

Coping strategies and emotional well-being in children with disease-related pain

“…This result leads us to believe that there are factors specific to the experience of cancer that make these youth especially prone to less adaptive views of themselves (e.g., hair falls out with chemotherapy, have to go in isolation, may have changes in physical strength/functioning, and excessive worry/fear of death). Furthermore, the long periods of hospitalization needed in children with cancer hamper what is most precious to school-age children: independence, peer relations, and school and play activities (Durualp and Altay, 2012). All these factors can concretely have negative effects on the child’s self-concept.…”

The Comparison of the Emotional States of the Cancer Children to their Healthy Peers

“…It could be said that the children included in the study, healthy or cancer and within the age group 5-12 act with their impulses due to their age and development properties. It has been determined by Cihangir and Kılıçarslan Törüner (2007) that the cancer children live impulsivity in higher ratios when compared to acute surgical patients and healthy children; and it has also been determined by Durualp and Altay (2012) that the cancer children between the ages 6-12 live impulsivity in higher ratios when compared to healthy children [5,26]. The fact that the children have hardships in controlling their behaviours, desires and feelings due to the illness and staying in the hospital is an expected situation.…”

“…The fact that it is a medical-physical illness and survival period increases cause too many problems in mental and psycho-social aspects and bring about psychological disorders [2]. It is stated in the conducted studies that psychological disorders such as aggression, anxiety, and depression are observed in higher ratios in the patient children when compared to the healthy children [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…Various drawing characteristics such as excessive or deficient drawing of body parts, disjointed body parts with no connection to each other, disproportion regarding the length of the figures and the exaggerated reflection of the normal appearance have been encountered when compared to the drawings of other children in the same age group in the pictures of the patient children in the conducted studies [15,22]. It is also specified that the emotional states of the children are determined even with the pictures drawn by the children, drawing pictures increases the communication skills of the children, improve their perceptions and reflect their feelings [5,7]. The assessment of the emotional states in especially cancer children is important and necessary in terms of establishing healthy communication with child and planning the approach to the child.…”

New Trends and Recent Care Approaches in Pediatric Oncology Nursing

“…The results showed that impulsivity, mistrust, and anger were observed higher than healthy children's drawings. [ 47 ] Social support and psychological symptoms of adolescents with leukemia were investigated in a study, and they found a negative relationship between them. [ 48 ] Furthermore, transition from children's to adult services is an essential issue to provide empowerment the adolescents and young adults in recent care approaches.…”