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Factors related to posttraumatic stress in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their parents

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Abstract

Goals of work

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to severe posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their parents.

Materials and methods

Eighty-nine families (88 adolescent survivors of childhood cancer, 87 mothers, 72 fathers) completed a self-report questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using the following risk factors for severe PTSS: trait anxiety, family functioning, demographic and medical variables.

Main results

Severe PTSS were reported by 10.9% (n=9) of the survivors, 20.7% (n=18) of the mothers, and 22.2% (n=16) of the fathers. Preliminary analyses found significant correlations of PTSS between mother–survivor (Spearman’s γ=0.377, p<0.01) and mother–father (Spearman’s γ=0.483, p<0.01). The results of multivariate analyses indicated that higher trait anxiety [odds ratio (OR):1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.31; p<0.05] and having medical sequelae (OR: 5.85; 95% CI:1.02–33.72; p<0.05) were significant factors related to PTSS for survivors. For mothers, the significant PTSS-related factors were: higher trait anxiety (OR:1.13; 95% CI:1.04–1.23; p<0.01); 5- to 9-year interval from the first diagnosis to the present investigation, compared to more than a 10-year interval (OR: 6.45; 95% CI:1.67–24.89; p<0.01); and a relatively lower rating on “roles” of family functioning (OR: 12.34; 95% CI:1.11–136.97; p<0.05). For fathers, trait anxiety was a significant related factor (OR: 1.07; 95% CI:1.01–1.14; p<0.05).

Conclusions

Survivors and their parents suffered from PTSS after long interval from completion of treatment, and PTSS-related factors varied for each family member. Appropriate allocation of responsibility for family functioning may promote the ability to decrease PTSS, especially for mothers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the patients and their parents who so willingly give their time. The authors would also like to acknowledge the collaborative support given by the pediatrician, especially Masao Kobayashi M.D., Ph.D., Shinichiro Nishimura M.D., Ph.D., Takashi Sato M.D., Ph.D. in Hiroshima University Hospital, Kazuko Hamamoto M.D., Ph.D. in Hiroshima Red Cross–Atomic Bomb Hospital, and Toyojiro Matsuishi M.D., Ph.D., Hiroko Inada M.D., Ph.D., Takako Hattori in Kurume University Hospital. This research was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research (11-2) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

    Shuichi Ozono

  2. Department of General Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan

    Toshinari Saeki

  3. Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Shuichi Ozono, Tomoyuki Mantani & Shigeto Yamawaki

  4. Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Akiko Ogata

  5. Graduate School of Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Hitoshi Okamura

Authors
  1. Shuichi Ozono
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  2. Toshinari Saeki
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  3. Tomoyuki Mantani
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  4. Akiko Ogata
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  5. Hitoshi Okamura
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  6. Shigeto Yamawaki
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Correspondence to Shigeto Yamawaki.

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Ozono, S., Saeki, T., Mantani, T. et al. Factors related to posttraumatic stress in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their parents. Support Care Cancer 15, 309–317 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0139-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0139-1

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