Social Support, Social Conflict, and Adjustment Among Adolescents With Cancer

Abstract

Results suggest that mother-adolescent conflict would be an appropriate target for psychosocial interventions.

Psychosocial dimensions of cancer in adolescents and young adults

“…2,3 Adolescents and young adults with mothers demonstrating lower maternal distress 4 appear themselves to demonstrate better overall psychological adjustment. Other qualities, such as flexibility of the family and the family's attempts to bring normalcy to the adolescent or young adult's life, were also found to be vital for better psychological adjustment.…”

Psychosocial Functioning in Parents of Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

“…Rather, investigators have observed high rates of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in parents. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Parents also report persistent feelings of loss, uncertainty, and anxiety about the recurrence of the disease or the emergence of late effects in their child. 12,15,16 In 1 study, qualitative techniques were used to better understand the emotional experiences of parents of childhood cancer survivors.…”

On cancer control and the adolescent

“…However, subject selection was problematic and the authors properly caution against generalization of their conclusions. Nevertheless, it is of more than casual interest that other investigators have described psychological stress in these families, associated in particular with perceived maternal conflict [72].…”