Stress, Adjustment and Growth in Children with Cancer and Their Parents

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Research

Supportive Studies

Non-Therapeutic Protocol

PTSD2: Stress, Adjustment and Growth in Children with Cancer and Their Parents

Type of Protocol/Clinical Study

Supportive Studies: Long Term Effects

Description

Childhood cancer is a significant event for the patient and family and can have both positive and negative effects. Most studies to date have focused on the negative effects (such as stress, worries, sadness) and not on the possible positive effects. This study will look at both positive and negative outcomes that occur in children with cancer and their parents.

The aims of this proposal will be addressed with a two-group (cancer and healthy control), cross-sectional, longitudinal design, using patient self-report, parent-report, and structured diagnostic interviews as the primary sources of data.

Objectives

To examine the outcomes of stress, adjustment, and growth in children through a comparison of children with cancer/cancer survivors and a population of children without a history of serious illness.
To look at factors that predict stress, adjustment, and growth responses in children.
To examine the outcomes of stress, adjustment, and growth in parents of children with cancer/cancer survivors in comparison to parents of healthy children.
To look at factors that predict stress, adjustment, and growth in parents.
To examine the usefulness of self-report measures as screening tools for outcomes of stress, adjustment, and growth.
To examine the properties of a new questionnaire regarding child personality.
To examine new social age-related outcomes over time.

Eligibility

Primary Group

Research participant is 8-17 years inclusive
Research participant has a primary diagnosis of malignancy
Research participant is at least one month from diagnosis with no upper limit in terms of time elapsed since diagnosis
Research participant is able to speak and read English
Research participant does not have any significant cognitive or sensory deficits that would preclude participation
Parent/LAR and research participant is willing to participate and provide consent/assent

Young Child Group

Research participant is 3–6 years of age, inclusive
Primary diagnosis of malignancy
At least one month from diagnosis
One parent/LAR willing to participate and provide consent

Young Adult Group

Research participant is 18-25 years of age inclusive
Primary diagnosis of malignancy
At least one month from diagnosis with no upper limit in terms of time elapsed from diagnosis
Able to read and speak English
No cognitive or sensory deficits that would preclude participation
Willing to participate and provide consent

Exclusion criteria for enrollment

Cognitive impairment/defect

Principal Investigator

Sean Phipps, PhD

The above information is intended to provide only a basic description about a research protocol that may be currently active at St. Jude. The details made available here may not be the most up-to-date information on protocols used by St. Jude. To receive full details about a protocol and its status and or use at St. Jude, a physician must contact St. Jude directly.

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