title: Social-emotional functioning of children and adolescents with neurofibromatosis type 1 and plexiform neurofibromas: relationships with cognitive, disease, and environmental variables.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine how cognitive, disease, and environmental variables relate to social-emotional functioning in youth with NF1 and plexiform neurofibromas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychological assessments were administered to 53 children (mean age 12.4 years); parents and teachers completed the behavior assessment system for children-second edition (BASC-2). Disease severity was quantified by nurse-practitioner ratings and tumor burden, and parents completed a life events checklist to indicate environmental stressors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Notable proportions of children scored in the at-risk/clinically significant ranges on several parent and teacher BASC-2 subscales including somatization, attention problems, depression, and withdrawal. Combinations of cognitive, disease, and environmental variables predicted scores on parent BASC-2 internalizing problems, behavior symptoms index, and Adaptive Skills composites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive, disease, and environmental variables relate to social-emotional outcomes in children with NF1. These youth may benefit from interventions targeting social skills, cognitive functioning, and adaptive ways of coping with NF1-related pain.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-8200, USA. martins@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Staci
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dombi
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Widemann
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018318:Neurofibroma, Plexiform / Q000523:psychology*; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires