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Determinants of social competence in pediatric brain tumor survivors who participated in an intervention study

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Abstract

Purpose

This prospective study describes disease/treatment, personal characteristics, and social/family contextual variables as risk and resilience factors that predict social competence in pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS).

Methods

Ninety-one PBTS (51% male, mean age 11.21 years, off-treatment, attending a regular classroom >50% of the time) participated. PBTS and their primary caregivers (proxy) completed the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS) to assess social competence at baseline, 2, and 8 months follow-up. At baseline, medical information (e.g., tumor type and location, cranial irradiation therapy (CIT)), personal characteristics (e.g., child’s age and gender, intelligence, executive function, attention, and memory), and social/family factors (family income and ethnicity) were obtained.

Results

Using mixed model multivariable analyses with a longitudinal component, tumor type (medulloblastoma) (p < 0.01) and poor executive function, specifically, emotional control, were the best predictors of low total and assertion self-reported SSRS scores (p < 0.02). Receiving CIT was associated with low proxy-reported assertion (p = 0.035), and cooperation score (p = 0.02). Poor emotional control was associated with low proxy-reported total (p = 0.032), assertion (p = 0.023), and self-control scores (p = 0.007). Being non-White was associated with low proxy-reported total (p = 0.016), self-control (p = 0.040), responsibility (p = 0.035), and cooperation scores (p = 0.002). There were no significant changes over time.

Conclusions

This study supports a multifactorial model of insult and non-insult factors (medical, personal, and social context) as determinants of social competence in PBTS. Data from both informants identify determinants of social competence. These factors need to be considered in future interventions to help children better improve their social competence.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Canadian Cancer Research Society Institute for funding this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Maru Barrera, Laura Janzen, Kelly Hancock & Amani Saleh

  2. Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Canada

    Maru Barrera, Ute Bartels, Lillian Sung, Laura Janzen, Kelly Hancock & Amani Saleh

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, Canada

    Eshetu G. Atenafu

  4. Department of Psychology, Alberta Children’s Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, Canada

    Fiona Schulte

  5. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Alberta Children’s Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, Canada

    Fiona Schulte & Douglas Strother

  6. Department of Psychology, BC Children’s Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, Canada

    Joanna Chung & Dina McConnell

  7. Division of Hematology/Oncology, BC Children’s Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, Canada

    Joanna Chung, Dina McConnell & Juliette Hukin

  8. Department of Psychology, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Canada

    Danielle Cataudella & Andrea Downie

  9. Division of Hematology/Oncology, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Canada

    Danielle Cataudella, Andrea Downie & Shayna Zelcer

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  1. Maru Barrera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maru Barrera.

Ethics declarations

Each participating site obtained local Institutional Ethics Review Board approval.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Barrera, M., Atenafu, E.G., Schulte, F. et al. Determinants of social competence in pediatric brain tumor survivors who participated in an intervention study. Support Care Cancer 25, 2891–2898 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3708-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3708-6

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