title: The relationships between uncertainty and posttraumatic stress in survivors of childhood cancer.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to understand the levels of uncertainty and posttraumatic stress and to examine their relationships in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. A cross-sectional correlational design was used in this study. Mailed survey was the data collection method. The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form was the measure of uncertainty. The University of California at Los Angeles Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Index was the measure of posttraumatic stress. A total of 46 (51.1%) survivors responded to the survey and the analysis was based on data from 45. Participants reported a mean 51.3 (SD = 14.5, range = 23 to 90) level of uncertainty; and a mean 15.7 (SD = 11.0, range = 0 to 43) level of posttraumatic stress. Uncertainty was positively correlated with posttraumatic stress (r = .40, p = .039). The re- conceptualization of the Uncertainty in Illness Theory (UIT) and developmental perspectives can explain the relationships between uncertainty and posttraumatic stress in the young adult survivors of childhood cancer. The re-conceptualization of UIT can serve as a guide for future studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Taipei 10063, Taiwan, ROC. yallee@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001143:Arousal; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D035501:Uncertainty