Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Comparison of Child Survivors of Pediatric Cancer and Parental Bereavement

Objective To compare the risk of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and the mediating effect of perceived future threat on the risk of PTS symptoms among survivors of pediatric cancer and children who had a parent die. Methods Seventy-eight children (39 survivors of cancer, 39 bereaved) completed s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pediatric psychology 2006-05, Vol.31 (4), p.367-376
Main Authors: Stoppelbein, Laura A., Greening, Leilani, Elkin, T. David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
bereaved
Bereavement
cancer
Child
Disease-Free Survival
Female
Humans
Male
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Neoplasms - mortality
Parents - psychology
pediatric
posttraumatic stress
PTSD
Risk Factors
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Survivors - psychology
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Summary:Objective To compare the risk of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and the mediating effect of perceived future threat on the risk of PTS symptoms among survivors of pediatric cancer and children who had a parent die. Methods Seventy-eight children (39 survivors of cancer, 39 bereaved) completed self-report measures of PTS symptoms, depression, anxiety, and perceived risk of future threat for the event they experienced. Results The children who lost a parent reported significantly more PTS symptoms than the survivors of cancer. The effect of group status (survivor of cancer vs. bereaved) on PTS symptomatology was partly mediated by the children’s perceived risk of future threat. Conclusions The rate of PTS symptoms was found to be higher among children who had lost a parent than among survivors of pediatric cancer. This difference may partly be explained by their perceived risk of a future threat. Clinical implications are discussed.
ISSN:0146-8693
1465-735X
DOI:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj055