Adaptive style in children with cancer: implications for a positive psychology approach.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the adaptive style paradigm as a heuristic model for understanding the very positive psychosocial adjustment that has been observed in children with cancer, and to integrate findings regarding repressive adaptive style into a broader positive psychology framework.


METHODS
A selective review of the literature on adaptive style, and its' relevance to outcomes of depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, somatic distress, and health-related quality of life in children with cancer.


RESULTS
Studies have found children with cancer report low levels of psychological distress. Adaptive style is a much stronger predictor of psychosocial outcomes than is health history.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with cancer represent a flourishing population. A repressive adaptive style is one pathway to resilience in this population. Additional constructs from the domain of positive psychology are reviewed, and a positive psychology model is suggested as a framework for guiding future research in this area.
Phipps
Sean
S
Division of Behavioral Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. sean.phipps@stjude.org
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*