Psychosocial dimensions of cancer in adolescents and young adults
Abstract
Psychosocial research examining the impact of cancer on adolescents and young adults has focused mostly on domains relating to family, psychological/emotional impact and social effects. An overview of the evidence-based literature available in each of these domains is presented to highlight the trends and provide a basis for clinical application. A review of the research literature was conducted to summarize what is known regarding the psychosocial dimensions of cancer in adolescents and young adults. Key elements critical to the psychosocial adaptation of the adolescents and young adults with cancer, as well as later effects of the cancer experience, are discussed in terms of clinical implications. A case example is utilized to demonstrate the application of what has been investigated empirically in regard to psychosocial dimensions of cancer in young adults and adolescents. Studies have identified various psychosocial challenges that adolescents and young adults experience when faced with cancer. Further research, incorporating the effects of treatment stage and developmental level of the patient on specific psychosocial dimensions of the cancer experience, is needed. Evidence-based information regarding the influence and interaction of family, psychological and emotional state, and social status of adolescents and young adults with cancer can aid clinicians when developing psychosocial assessment and treatment approaches for these patients.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Adolescents and young adults learn and communicate differently from younger and older patients, requiring age-targeted language and educational methods.
“AYAs learn and communicate differently than younger and older patients, and this necessitates age-targeted language and educational methods.22”
From Promoting resilience in adolescents and young adults with cancer: Results from the PRISM randomized controlled trial (2018) · cites this paper as [22]
Cites
Kazak, A. E. (2004) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsh022 · Cited by 505 · see citing works
Zebrack, B., Gurney, J. G., Oeffinger, K. C., Whitton, J. A., Packer, R. J., Mertens, A. C., Turk, N., Castleberry, R. P., Dreyer, Z. E., Robison, L. L., et al. (2004) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2004.06.148 · Cited by 397 · see citing works
Self-citationZebrack, B., Zeltzer, L. K., Whitton, J. A., Mertens, A. C., Odom, L. F., Berkow, R. L., & Robison, L. L. (2002) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.110.1.42 · Cited by 379 · see citing works
Self-citationMitby, P. A., Robison, L. L., Whitton, J. A., Zevon, M. A., Gibbs, I. C., Tersak, J. M., Meadows, A. T., Stovall, M. A., Zeltzer, L. K., & Mertens, A. C. (2003) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.11117 · Cited by 364 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Damocles syndrome: Psychosocial consequences of surviving childhood cancer
Koocher, G. P., & O’Malley, J. E. (1981) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 337 · see citing works
Barrera, M. E., Shaw, A. K., Speechley, K. N., Maunsell, E., & Pogany, L. M. (2005) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.21390 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Quality of life in childhood cancer survivors
Zebrack, B., & Chesler, M. A. (2002) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.569 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
The Damocles Syndrome. Psychosocial Consequences of Surviving Childhood Cancer
Howarth, R. (1982) · Archives of Disease in Childhood · doi:10.1136/adc.57.4.324 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Coping with the onset of cancer: coping strategies and resources of young people with cancer
Kyngäs, H. A., Mikkonen, R., Nousiainen, E.-M., Rytilahti, M., Seppänen, P., Vaattovaara, R., & Jämsä, T. J. (2001) · European Journal of Cancer Care · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2354.2001.00243.x · Cited by 219 · see citing works
Body Image and Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescent Cancer Survivors
Pendley, J. S., Dahlquist, L. M., & Dreyer, Z. (1997) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/22.1.29 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Manne, S. L., Hamel, K. D., Gallelli, K. A., Sorgen, K., & Redd, W. H. (1998) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/23.6.357 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
Posttraumatic stress disorder and family functioning in adolescent cancer
Pelcovitz, D., Libov, B. G., Mandel, F., Kaplan, S., Weinblatt, M., & Septimus, A. (1998) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1023/a:1024442802113 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Educational Attainment in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Haupt, R. (1994) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1994.03520180051034 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Nagarajan, R., Clohisy, D. R., Neglia, J. P., Yasui, Y., Mitby, P. A., Sklar, C. A., Finklestein, J. Z., Greenberg, M., Reaman, G. H., Zeltzer, L. K., et al. (2004) · British Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6602220 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Self-citationFamily Systems Practice in Pediatric Psychology
Kazak, A. E. (2002) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/27.2.133 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Claflin, C. J., & Barbarin, O. A. (1991) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/16.2.169 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
ILES, J. P. (1979) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/00002820-197910000-00005 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Rait, D. S., Ostroff, J. S., Smith, K., Cella, D. F., TAN, C. T. C., & Lesko, L. M. (1992) · Family Process · doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.1992.00383.x · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Adjustment in the Peer System of Adolescents with Cancer: A Two-Year Study
Noll, R. B., Bukowski, W. M., Davies, W. H., et al. (1993) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/18.3.351 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
School and Social Reintegration of Children with Cancer
Katz, E. R., RUBENSTEIN, C. L., Hubert, N. C., & Blew, A. (1988) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1300/j077v06n03_09 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
The Needs of Children and Adolescents With Cancer for Information and Social Support
Ishibashi, A. (2001) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/00002820-200102000-00010 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Adolescent Cancer Survivors: Psychosocial and Familial Adaptation
Madan‐Swain, A., Brown, R. T., Sexson, S. B., Baldwin, K., Pais, R. C., & Ragab, A. H. (1994) · Psychosomatics · doi:10.1016/s0033-3182(94)71739-4 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
A Support Group Intervention to Facilitate Young Adults' Adjustment to Cancer
Roberts, C. S., Piper, L. E., Denny, J. C., & Cuddeback, G. S. (1997) · Health & Social Work · doi:10.1093/hsw/22.2.133 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Identity in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Madan‐Swain, A. (2000) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/25.2.105 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Katz, E. R., Varm, J. W., RUBENSTEIN, C. L., et al. (1992) · Children s Health Care · doi:10.1207/s15326888chc2102_1 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Quality of Life in Children Surviving Cancer: A Personality and Multi-Informant Perspective
Clercq, B. J. D. (2004) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsh060 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Boman, K. K., & Bodeg??rd, G. (2004) · Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology · doi:10.1097/00043426-200406000-00005 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Cognitive Aspects of Chronic Illness in Children
Berndt, K. (2000) · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1016/s0882-5963(00)70058-3 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Social Support, Social Conflict, and Adjustment Among Adolescents With Cancer
Marine, S., & Miller, D. L. (1998) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/23.2.121 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Coping in Children With Cancer: Examining the Goodness-of-Fit Hypothesis
Sorgen, K., & Manne, S. L. (2002) · Children s Health Care · doi:10.1207/s15326888chc3103_2 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Personality Characteristics and Psychosocial Adjustment of Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Chang, P., Nesbit, M. E., Youngren, N. M., et al. (1987) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1300/j077v05n04_04 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Themes Arising in Group Therapy for Adolescents With Cancer and Their Parents
Palmer, L., Erickson, S. J., Shaffer, T. G., Koopman, C., Amylon, M., & Steiner, H. (2000) · International Journal of Rehabilitation and Health · doi:10.1023/a:1012959119398 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
PSYCHOSOCIAL NURSING CARE FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER
Ritchie, M. A. (2001) · Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1080/01460860121107 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Cooperation with treatment in adolescent cancer patients
Jamison, R. N., Lewis, S., & Burish, T. G. (1986) · Journal of Adolescent Health Care · doi:10.1016/s0197-0070(86)80032-8 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Maternal Problem-Solving Therapy in Pediatric Cancer
Varni, J. W., Sahler, O. J. Z., Katz, E. R., Mulhern, R. K., Copeland, D. R., Noll, R. B., Phipps, S., Dolgin, M. J., & Roghmann, K. J. (1999) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1300/j077v16n03_04 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Perceived Stress and Adjustment of Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Varni, J. W., Katz, E. R., Colegrove, R., & Dolgin, M. J. (1994) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1300/j077v12n03_01 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Stern, M., Norman, S. L., & Zevon, M. A. (1993) · Journal of Adolescent Research · doi:10.1177/074355489381009 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Barrera, M. E., Wayland, L. A., D’Agostino, N. M., Gibson, J. A., Weksberg, R., & Malkin, D. M. (2003) · Children s Health Care · doi:10.1207/s15326888chc3203_3 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Dcrevensky, J. L., Tsanos, A. P., & Handman, M. (1998) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1300/j077v16n01_03 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Gray, C. C. (2001) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/26.4.247 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Hill, J., Kondryn, H., Mackie, E., et al. (2003) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00161 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
SELF-PERCEPTION PROFILE IN CHILDREN WITH CANCER: SELF VS PARENT REPORT
Eapen, V., Mpofu, C., Révész, T., & Daradkeh, T. K. (1999) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.1999.84.2.427 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Challinor, J. M., Miaskowski, C., Moore, I. M., et al. (2000) · Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1744-6155.2000.tb00088.x · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Lockhard, I. A., Phil, D. L. E., & Berard, R. M. F. (2001) · International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health · doi:10.1515/ijamh.2001.13.3.221 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Daum, A. L., & Collins, C. A. (1993) · PubMed · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Morita (2000) · doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1611(200003/04)9:2
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Psychosocial care of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and survivors
Zebrack, B., & Isaacson, S. (2012) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2011.39.5467 · Cited by 462 · see citing works
Barnett, M., McDonnell, G., DeRosa, A., Schuler, T., Philip, E., Peterson, L., Touza, K., Jhanwar, S., Atkinson, T. M., & Ford, J. S. (2016) · Journal of Cancer Survivorship · doi:10.1007/s11764-016-0527-6 · Cited by 308 · see citing works
Zebrack, B. J., Block, R., Hayes‐Lattin, B., Embry, L., Aguilar, C., Meeske, K. A., Li, Y., Butler, M., & Cole, S. (2013) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.27713 · Cited by 268 · see citing works
Information and service needs for young adult cancer survivors
Zebrack, B. (2009) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-008-0469-2 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Kwak, M., Zebrack, B. J., Meeske, K. A., Embry, L., Aguilar, C., Block, R., Hayes-Lattin, B., Li, Y., Butler, M., & Cole, S. (2013) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2012.45.9222 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Rosenberg, A. R., Bradford, M. C., McCauley, E., Curtis, J. R., Wolfe, J., Baker, K. S., & Yi‐Frazier, J. P. (2018) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.31666 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Michel, G., Rebholz, C. E., von der Weid, N. X., Bergstraesser, E., & Kuehni, C. E. (2010) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2009.23.4534 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Cancer in adolescents and young adults: Who remains at risk of poor social functioning over time?
Husson, O., Zebrack, B. J., Aguilar, C., Hayes‐Lattin, B., & Cole, S. (2017) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.30656 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Contributors and Inhibitors of Resilience Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Rosenberg, A. R., Yi-Frazier, J. P., Wharton, C., Gordon, K., & Jones, B. (2014) · Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology · doi:10.1089/jayao.2014.0033 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Belpame, N., Kars, M. C., Beeckman, D., Decoene, E., Quaghebeur, M., Van Hecke, A., & Verhaeghe, S. (2016) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/ncc.0000000000000307 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Hanghøj, S., Pappot, N., Hjerming, M., Taarnhøj, G. A., Boisen, K. A., & Pappot, H. (2021) · Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology · doi:10.1089/jayao.2020.0202 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Straehla, J. P., Barton, K. S., Yi-Frazier, J. P., Wharton, C., Baker, K. S., Bona, K., Wolfe, J., & Rosenberg, A. R. (2017) · Journal of Palliative Medicine · doi:10.1089/jpm.2016.0369 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Fisher, P. L., McNicol, K., Cherry, M. G., Young, B., Smith, E., Abbey, G., & Salmon, P. (2018) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347332.2018.1440276 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
- Authors
- Evan, E. E., & Zeltzer, L. K.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Evan, Elana E.
- ORCID
- Zeltzer, Lonnie K.
- Venue
- Cancer
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006
- Volume
- 107
- Issue
- S7
- Pages
- 1663-1671
- ISSN
- 0008-543X (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0142
- OpenAlex
- W1975607287
- Cited by
- 163
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 0.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
- Keywords
- adolescent cancer, young adult cancer, psychosocial impact of cancer, family impact, psychosocial adjustment, long-term effects of cancer, psychosocial assessment, psychosocial interventions
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Emotions, Family, Humans, Neoplasms, Parent-Child Relations, Social Adjustment, Social Support, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
