Posttraumatic Growth in Adolescent Survivors of Cancer and Their Mothers and Fathers
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe posttraumatic growth (PTG) following childhood cancer survival and its association with demographic and disease/treatment variables, perceived treatment severity and life threat, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). METHOD: Adolescent survivors of cancer (N = 150, ages 11-19), at least 1 year after treatment, and their mothers (N = 146) and fathers (N = 107) completed self-report measures of perceived treatment intensity and PTSS and a semistructured interview designed to identify posttraumatic responses and indicators of PTG including perceived positive changes for self, relationships, and life goals. RESULTS: A majority of adolescents and their mothers and fathers reported PTG. Greater perceived treatment severity and life threat, but not objective disease severity, was associated with PTG. PTG and PTSS were positively associated for the adolescent cancer survivors. Diagnosis after age 5 resulted in more perceived benefit and greater PTSS for adolescent survivors. CONCLUSION: Clarification of the concept and measurement of PTG after childhood cancer is warranted, as are prospective studies of the association of PTG and PTSS and the role of demographic variables and illness-specific appraisals.
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The post-treatment period is a vulnerable time for some parents, who can experience worsening quality of life, anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness.
“Despite the acknowledged positive aspects of treatment completion [5,6], this is a vulnerable time for some parents, who can experience worsening quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness [7,8].”
From Online parent-targeted cognitive-behavioural therapy intervention to improve quality of life in families of young cancer survivors: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. (2015) · cites this paper as [5]
The Discussion (page not provided) says families may experience significant distress during survivorship, and the paper reports posttraumatic stress symptoms in parents. It does not establish worsening parental quality of life, anxiety, depression, or helplessness specifically, or show that these worsen at treatment completion. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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References 36 · Cited by 478
- Authors
- Barakat, L. P., Alderfer, M. A., & Kazak, A. E.
- Affiliations
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
- Corresponding author
- Barakat, Lamia P.
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2005-08-10
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 413-419
- ISSN
- 0146-8693 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-735X
- OpenAlex
- W2118714184
- Cited by
- 478
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 9.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (R01CA063930, CA63930)
- 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 › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- posttraumatic growth, childhood cancer survivors, adolescent cancer survivors, posttraumatic stress symptoms, perceived life threat, parents of cancer survivors, illness appraisal
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Demography, Fathers, Female, Humans, Male, Mothers, Neoplasms, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Survivors, Disease-Free Survival
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