title: Alexithymia in children with cancer and their siblings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of alexithymia in children with cancer, in siblings of children with cancer, and in healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to compare the groups the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children was used. The study group consisted of 97 children with cancer, 95 siblings, and 151 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest level of alexithymia was reported by children diagnosed with cancer, followed by their siblings. Healthy controls reported the lowest level of alexithymia. No gender differences were observed. The intensity of cancer was a significant predictor of the alexithymia score, with patients with the most severe cancers reporting the highest levels of alexithymia. No differences were found between the patients with moderately severe and least severe cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not only children with cancer, but also their siblings show significantly more alexithymia than their healthy counterparts. Professionals should aim at preventing or reducing the psychological problems in both patients and their siblings.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Patients Aid Association, Anand Niketan, King George V Memorial Infirmary, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Veena Shukla
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Shubha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maudgal
authors.forename: Stephanie C P M
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Theunissen
authors.forename: Carolien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rieffe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*