Adjustment in Childhood Brain Tumor Survival: Child, Mother, and Teacher Report

Abstract

Examined the adjustment of 6- to 18-year-old children and adolescents (n = 38) 2 to 5 years postdiagnosis of brain tumor with respect to standardized measures of anxiety and depression; self-perceptions; and adaptive living skills. Child, mother, and teacher report data were used. Maternal adjustment (anxiety and depression, parenting stress) was also assessed. Children and adolescents surviving brain tumors reported themselves to be generally within the normal range. However, maternal ratings of social problems were higher than normative scores and significantly lower than norms on social problems, scholastic competence, and communication skills. Teacher ratings on the Teacher Rating Form were all within normal limits. Maternal adjustment measures were within the normal range, although the Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction subscale of the Parenting Stress index was elevated. No differences in scores were found between children in regular and special education, or between children who had received radiation and those who did not. This sample of survivors of pediatric brain tumors and their mothers had relatively mild problems in adjustment, supporting a competency-based view of the adaptation of pediatric patients and their families.

Social and emotional adjustment in young survivors of childhood cancer

“…No overt psychological dysfunctioning was found; nor was there any evidence of significant psychopathology. When there were pathologic profiles, the number of survivors exceeding clinical cut-off scores was consistent with published norms [1,5,10,30,34]. Lesko [25] reported more global psychological distress and less robust overall mental health in survivors than in normative samples, but this did not reach psychopathological levels.…”

“…With respect to general self-worth they did not find any differences, but according to Radcliffe et al [34] brain tumor survivors felt they had less athletic competence than the normative sample. Van DongenMelman also [48] reported less athletic competence in survivors than in the control group, but higher scores on physical appearance.…”

“…Radcliffe et al [34], Spirito et al [42] and Van DongenMelman [48] used the Self-Perception Profile for Children to investigate self-worth in childhood cancer survivors compared with healthy children and/or normative values. With respect to general self-worth they did not find any differences, but according to Radcliffe et al [34] brain tumor survivors felt they had less athletic competence than the normative sample.…”

Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescents with Craniofacial Anomalies: A Comparison of Parent and Self-Reports

“…In pediatric samples, on the other hand, parents appear to report more adjustment problems than do children. This finding has been consistent across studies of children with asthma (Kashani et al, 1988;Klinnert et al, 2000), brain tumors (Radcliffe et al, 1996), disabilities (Coleman, 1983), and cerebral palsy (Harvey and Greenway, 1982); only a sample of children with spina bifida reported more adjustment problems than did their parents (Harvey and Greenway, 1982). None of these studies was focused on adolescents, so it is not known how development may affect these findings.…”

Burnout in Mothers and Fathers of Children Surviving Brain Tumour

“…Remarkably enough, despite the more or less obvious deficits, the survivors themselves frequently report a quality of life on par with their healthy peers (Carpentieri, Meyer et al, 2003;Fuemmeler et al, 2001). It has been suggested that this discrepancy can be attributed to the parents' wider awareness of the sequelae and restrictions of the child's life (Radcliffe, Bennett, Kazak, Foley, & Phillips, 1996). In summary, parents of children surviving brain tumours are likely to experience long-term strain related to the child's disease.…”