Relations Among Optimism, Perceived Health Vulnerability, and Academic, Self-Regulatory, and Social Self-Efficacy in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Rebecca H. Foster PhD Department of Psychology, Winona State University, Winona, MN, USA; Behavioral Health Department, Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI, USA

Claire C. Russell MS Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Robyn Dillon LCSW Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Matthew J. Bitsko PhD Department of Psychology and Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Kamar Godder MD, MPH Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Marilyn Stern PhD Department of Psychology and Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Abstract

This study investigated relations among optimism, perceived health vulnerability, treatment intensity, and academic, self-regulatory, and social self-efficacy in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Fifty-six adolescent survivors (M_age = 16.19 years, SD = 2.48) completed questionnaires. Compared to a previously published sample of adolescents without a history of cancer, survivors reported similar academic, higher self-regulatory, and lower social self-efficacy. Optimism and health vulnerability were associated with changes in academic, self-regulatory, and social self-efficacy. Cancer-specific variables (e.g., treatment intensity, time since treatment ended) were unrelated to self-efficacy. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-efficacy may benefit from exploring optimism and health vulnerabilities as mechanisms for change.

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Relations Among Optimism, Perceived Health Vulnerability, and Academic, Self-Regulatory, and Social Self-Efficacy in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer

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Relations Among Optimism, Perceived Health Vulnerability, and Academic, Self-Regulatory, and Social Self-Efficacy in Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer

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