Positive schemas, psychopathology, and quality of life in children with pediatric cancer: A pilot study

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Research in the area of pediatric oncology has shown that although some children and youth diagnosed with this disease cope adaptively after their diagnosis, others continue to have long-term psychosocial difficulties. The potential mechanisms that may protect against the experience of psychopathology and poor quality of life within this population are not well known. The purpose of this pilot study was to utilize a new comprehensive measure of positive schemas to better understand the relationship between positive schemas, quality of life, and psychopathology, for children on active treatment for cancer. Methods: Participants were 22 patients, aged 8–18 years, being treated in a pediatric oncology clinic. Patients and parents completed measures of positive schemas, quality of life, and psychopathology. Results: The mean age at time of initial diagnosis of the patient sample was 11.6 years. Child-reported positive schemas were significantly related to child-reported child quality of life (r = 0.46, p = 0.03). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine positive schemas within a pediatric oncology sample. Future research is needed to further explore facets of positive schemas that may be particularly relevant to child psychological functioning in a pediatric oncology population.

KEYWORDS:

• child cancer
• pediatric oncology
• positive schemas
• psychopathology
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their thanks to all of the participants in this study and to the Hematology, Oncology, and Transplant team who assisted in various ways with this research.

Funding

Dr. Schulte was supported by a grant from the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. Dr. McArthur was supported by a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.