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Psychosocial functioning of young adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancer

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Abstract

Goals of work

The present study aimed to assess the psychosocial well-being of Greek adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer and, in particular, self-esteem, anxiety, coping strategies, and social functioning.

Patients and methods

The sample comprised 103 Greek childhood cancer survivors and 135 healthy controls. The Battle Culture-free Self-esteem Inventory (BCSEI), the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Lazarus and Folkman Ways of Coping, and 36-item short-form instruments were used along with The Questionnaire for the Quality of Life.

Main results

Survivors scored higher than controls on all STAI subscales, but on State, the difference was statistically significant only for female adults, while on the Trait subscale, for the entire group. Survivors scored lower on Personal and higher on Lie subscale of BCSEI, by comparison to controls. When coping with stressful events, the use of self-blame strategies and wishful thinking were more frequent among controls, while distancing strategies more common among survivors.

Conclusions

The long-term psychological functioning of Greek survivors of childhood cancer is satisfactory, with emotional difficulties, such as increased anxiety and lower self-esteem, receding over time. Survivors experience personal growth and mature through trauma as they develop a positive view of the impact that the cancer experience has upon their life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Haematology/Oncology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Osmond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK

    Marina Servitzoglou

  2. Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Danai Papadatou

  3. 2nd University Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital ‘Agia Sofia’, Athens, Greece

    Ioannis Tsiantis

  4. Oncology Department, Hospital ‘P. and A. Kyriakou’, Athens, Greece

    Helen Vasilatou-Kosmidis

Authors
  1. Marina Servitzoglou
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  2. Danai Papadatou
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  3. Ioannis Tsiantis
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  4. Helen Vasilatou-Kosmidis
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Correspondence to Marina Servitzoglou.

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Servitzoglou, M., Papadatou, D., Tsiantis, I. et al. Psychosocial functioning of young adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancer. Support Care Cancer 16, 29–36 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0278-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0278-z

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