Adolescent Cancer Survivors: Psychosocial and Familial Adaptation

Avi Madan-Swain, Ronald T. Brown, Sandra B. Sexson, Kevin Baldwin, Ray Pais, Abdel Ragab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adolescent cancer survivors were compared with nondiseased control subjects on measures of adaptation, coping, body image, sexual adjustment, psychopathology, and family functioning. Cancer survivors reported no major difficulties in social competence, overall coping, and family communication. Although their school teachers reported no symptoms of psychopathology, the cancer survivors did report body image disturbances and adjustment difficulties. Further, the surviving adolescents were eager to present themselves favorably. Compared with nondiseased control families, families of survivors were characterized as somewhat inflexible. Implications for clinical practice include the careful monitoring of youth who have survived cancer as well as sensitivity to underlying concerns that the survivors and their families may avoid.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)453-459
Number of pages7
JournalPsychosomatics
Volume35
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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