Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on August 10, 2005
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2006 31(4):413-419; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj058
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Posttraumatic Growth in Adolescent Survivors of Cancer and Their Mothers and Fathers
1 Drexel University, 2 The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and 3 The University of Pennsylvania
All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Lamia P. Barakat, PhD, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104. E-mail: lamia.p.barakat{at}drexel.edu.
Received February 12, 2004; revision received June 1, 2004; accepted July 14, 2004
Objective To describe posttraumatic growth (PTG) following childhood cancer survival and its association with demographic and disease/treatment variables, perceived treatment severity and life threat, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Method Adolescent survivors of cancer (N = 150, ages 11–19), at least 1 year after treatment, and their mothers (N = 146) and fathers (N = 107) completed self-report measures of perceived treatment intensity and PTSS and a semistructured interview designed to identify posttraumatic responses and indicators of PTG including perceived positive changes for self, relationships, and life goals. Results A majority of adolescents and their mothers and fathers reported PTG. Greater perceived treatment severity and life threat, but not objective disease severity, was associated with PTG. PTG and PTSS were positively associated for the adolescent cancer survivors. Diagnosis after age 5 resulted in more perceived benefit and greater PTSS for adolescent survivors. Conclusion Clarification of the concept and measurement of PTG after childhood cancer is warranted, as are prospective studies of the association of PTG and PTSS and the role of demographic variables and illness-specific appraisals.
Key words: adolescents; childhood cancer survival; families; posttraumatic growth; posttraumatic stress.
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