Family functioning predictors of adjustment in children with newly diagnosed cancer: a prospective analysis.
Theoretically-driven investigations on the potentially modifiable predictors of individual differences among newly-diagnosed pediatric cancer patients may facilitate the identification of children at risk for adjustment problems. Within a risk and resistance conceptual model, family functioning was investigated concurrently and prospectively as a predictor of adjustment in newly-diagnosed pediatric cancer patients at Time 1 (within 1 month after diagnosis), Time 2 (6 months postdiagnosis), and Time 3 (9 months postdiagnosis). The family relationship dimensions of cohesion and expressiveness most consistently predicted the psychological and social adjustment of children with newly-diagnosed cancer over a 9-month period after initial diagnosis. These findings are discussed in terms of the treatment implications for enhancing child adjustment to newly-diagnosed cancer and biomedical treatment.
Varni
J W
JW
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, USA.
Katz
E R
ER
Colegrove
R
R
Dolgin
M
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment