Skip Navigation



Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on August 10, 2005
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj058
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
31/4/413    most recent
jsj058v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Barakat, L. P.
Right arrow Articles by Kazak, A. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Barakat, L. P.
Right arrow Articles by Kazak, A. E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of Pediatric Psychology © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received February 12, 2004
Revised June 1, 2004
Accepted July 14, 2004

Article

Posttraumatic Growth in Adolescent Survivors of Cancer and Their Mothers and Fathers

Lamia P. Barakat PhD1*, Melissa A. Alderfer PhD2, and Anne E. Kazak PhD, ABPP2

1 Drexel University
2 The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; The University of Pennsylvania

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Lamia P. Barakat, E-mail: lamia.p.barakat{at}drexel.edu


  Abstract

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.

Keywords: adolescents; childhood cancer survival; families; posttraumatic growth; posttraumatic stress.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
B. E. Werba and A. E. Kazak
Commentary: Life Threat, Risk, and Resilience in Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress
J. Pediatr. Psychol., May 17, 2008; (2008) jsn050v1.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
N. Jurbergs, A. Long, L. Ticona, and S. Phipps
Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress in Parents of Children with Cancer: Are they Elevated Relative to Parents of Healthy Children?
J. Pediatr. Psychol., December 11, 2007; (2007) jsm119v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
S. Phipps, A. M. Long, and J. Ogden
Benefit Finding Scale for Children: Preliminary Findings from a Childhood Cancer Population
J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2007; 32(10): 1264 - 1271.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
J. W. Varni, C. Limbers, and T. M. Burwinkle
Literature Review: Health-related Quality of Life Measurement in Pediatric Oncology: Hearing the Voices of the Children
J. Pediatr. Psychol., October 1, 2007; 32(9): 1151 - 1163.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
A. E. Kazak, M. T. Rourke, M. A. Alderfer, A. Pai, A. F. Reilly, and A. T. Meadows
Evidence-based Assessment, Intervention and Psychosocial Care in Pediatric Oncology: A Blueprint for Comprehensive Services Across Treatment
J. Pediatr. Psychol., October 1, 2007; 32(9): 1099 - 1110.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
S. Phipps
Adaptive Style in Children with Cancer: Implications for a Positive Psychology Approach
J. Pediatr. Psychol., October 1, 2007; 32(9): 1055 - 1066.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.