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Childhood cancer and brain tumor late effects: The impact on families and associated survivor psychological outcomes

Cousino, Melissa K
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1406733750

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Psychology.
Objective: The study aimed to examine associations between long-term side effects (i.e., late effects) of childhood cancer/brain tumors and family factors, specifically general family functioning and the impact of childhood cancer survivorship on families. Mediation and moderation models including late effects and family factors as predictors of survivor psychological outcomes were tested. Methods: Survivors (N=65) of any childhood cancer or brain tumor who were >2 years off-treatment and between the ages of 10-17 years and one parent/caregiver completed measures assessing child emotional and behavioral functioning, general family functioning, and illness-specific family burden. Medical providers documented survivors’ late effects. Results: Number of survivor late effects and illness-specific family/social burden was positively correlated, r = .29, p < .05. Parent report of more severe survivor late effects also related to greater illness-specific family/social burden, r = .56, p < .01. Number of late effects was unrelated to general family functioning and to survivor psychological outcomes, although higher number of late effects associated with at-risk or clinical elevations in symptoms of PTSD, p < .05. Support for an indirect effect of number of late effects on parent-reported survivor internalizing problems as mediated by illness-specific family burden was demonstrated, p < .05, 95% CI [.24, 2.17]. Indirect effects were not found in models predicting PTSD and externalizing problems. Conclusions: Illness-specific family burden is an important family-based intervention target for reducing risk for internalizing problems in survivors of childhood cancer, particularly in those experiencing late effects.
Taylor H. Gerry, PhD (Committee Chair)
Hazen Rebecca, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Feeny Norah, PhD (Committee Member)
Russ Sandra, PhD (Committee Member)
Josie Katherine Leigh, PhD (Committee Member)
102 p.
Psychology
childhood cancer survivor; late effects; family burden

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cousino, M. K. (2015). Childhood cancer and brain tumor late effects: The impact on families and associated survivor psychological outcomes [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1406733750

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cousino, Melissa. Childhood cancer and brain tumor late effects: The impact on families and associated survivor psychological outcomes . 2015. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1406733750.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cousino, Melissa. "Childhood cancer and brain tumor late effects: The impact on families and associated survivor psychological outcomes ." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1406733750

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1406733750
6,712
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.