Friendships in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors and Non-Central Nervous System Tumor Survivors

Matthew C. Hocking, Robert B. Noll, Anne E. Kazak, Cole Brodsky, Peter Phillips, Lamia P. Barakat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Brain tumors during childhood may disrupt the development and maintenance of friendships due to the impact of disease- and treatment-related factors on functioning. The goal of this study was to determine if children treated for either a brain tumor or a non-central nervous system (CNS) solid tumor could name a friend and to evaluate the social information processes associated with the ability to name a friend. Method: Youth (ages 7-14) treated for either a brain tumor (n = 47; mean age = 10.51 years) or a non-CNS solid tumor (n = 34; mean age = 11.29) completed an assessment within 6 months of the conclusion of treatment that included asking participants to name a friend and completing measures of social information processing (SIP). Rates of self-reported friendship were compared between groups and correlates of being able to name a friend were evaluated. Results: Youth treated for a brain tumor (61.7%) were significantly less likely to name a friend compared with youth treated for a non-CNS solid tumor (85.3%). Diagnosis type (brain vs. non-CNS), relapse status, attribution style, and facial affect recognition were significant predictors of being able to name a friend or not in a logistic regression model. Conclusions: Youth treated for a brain tumor and those who experienced a disease relapse are at risk for impairments in friendships; difficulties with SIP may increase this risk. Targeted screening and intervention efforts for children diagnosed with brain tumors and those who have relapsed could address difficulties with peers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)194-202
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Pediatric Psychology
Volume45
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • brain tumor
  • friendships
  • pediatric cancer
  • social cognition
  • social competence

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