Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on July 30, 2008
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2009 34(3):317-327; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsn080
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Executive Function, Coping, and Behavior in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia*
1University of Virginia Health System, 2Ohio State University Medical Center, and 3Vanderbilt University
All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Laura K. Campbell, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 800223, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0223, USA. E-mail: lkc3h{at}virginia.edu; or Bruce E. Compas, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Peabody 512, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. E-mail: bruce.compas{at}vanderbilt.edu
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Objective To examine the role of executive function in coping and behavioral outcomes in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) survivors. Methods We examined associations among several domains of executive function (working memory, behavioral inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and self-monitoring), coping, and emotional/behavioral problems in 30 children and adolescents ages 10- to 20-years old who completed treatment for ALL and 30 healthy controls matched on age and sex. Results We found partial support for our hypothesis that performance on executive function measures is associated with strategies used to cope with stress, and emotional and behavioral problems in ALL survivors. Conclusions Findings suggest that executive function impairment may be associated with difficulties in coping and emotion regulation in a subgroup of children treated for ALL. Directions for future research on executive function deficits and coping skills in survivors of pediatric ALL are suggested.
Key words: behavior problem; cancer and oncology; coping; neuropsychology.
*A portion of these data were presented at the National Conference in Child Health Psychology in Miami, Florida (April 2008).
Received March 13, 2008; revision received June 2, 2008; accepted July 9, 2008