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Original Articles

Attributions of responsibility in adolescent cancer patients and their parentsFootnote*

, , &
Pages 135-142 | Published online: 01 Oct 2009
 

Abstract

Attributions of responsibility have been shown to be important determinants of illness behavior in adults. This study examines the salience of attributional judgments among adolescents with cancer. Patients and their parents were categorized according to their attributions of responsibility for the cause of and solution to the adolescent's health problems into one of four attributional models. Of the four possible models, only two were represented: the medical and compensatory. Only 37.5% of parent/child pairs were concordant for model choice. Patients whose attributions conformed to those of the compensatory model sought more information (F = 5.1, P = .03), were satisfied with the information supplied (F = 3.5, P = .07), and expressed the belief that a greater percentage of prescribed medications needed to be taken if a cure was to result (F = 4.1, P = .05). Side effects were more often experienced by patients whose responsibility attributions exemplified the medical model (F = 5.09, P = .03). Model concordance did not relate to parent/child agreement on health‐related beliefs, patient age, sex, or compliance measures (P > .05). No relationship was found between parent‐child model concordance and patient's self‐reported medication compliance. The present data do not support the notion that attributions of responsibility for cause and solution of cancer should be important targets of interventions designed to increase medication compliance among cancer patients.

Notes

Supported in part by Grants PBR‐2 and PBR‐2A from the American Cancer Society and a grant by National Football League Charities.

Director, Adolescent Unit, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY.

Director, Department of Psychology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY.

Research Affiliate, Adolescent Unit, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY.

Cancer Control & Epidemiology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY.

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