Impact of attention on social functioning in pediatric medulloblastoma survivors

ABSTRACT

Background: Parent-reported attention problems have been associated with social functioning in a broad sample of pediatric cancer survivors. Objective: The present study focused on a more homogeneous sample (pediatric medulloblastoma survivors), with the novel inclusion of self-reported attention ratings. Participants/Methods: Thirty-three pediatric medulloblastoma survivors, ages 7–18 years, completed a brief IQ measure and self-report of attentional and social functioning. Parents rated patients' attentional and social functioning. Results: Mean attention ratings were average based on both parent- and self-report, though parent ratings were significantly discrepant from normative means. No significant demographic or treatment-related predictors of self-reported attention problems were identified, whereas female gender was associated with greater parent-reported attention problems. Canonical correlation analysis revealed a significant association between parent-reported attention difficulties and social functioning in pediatric medulloblastoma survivors, but there was no association between self-reported attention problems and measures of social functioning. Conclusions: Consistent with existing literature in broader samples of pediatric cancer survivors, the present study further affirms attention deficits as an underlying contributor to social deficits in pediatric medulloblastoma survivors while also finding little relationship between self-reports of attention and social performance. Notably, present findings provide additional support suggesting that attention functioning is a more significant contributor to social outcomes for pediatric medulloblastoma survivors than the level of cognitive ability.

KEYWORDS:

• Attention
• medulloblastoma
• neuropsychology
• pediatrics
• social behavior

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the neuro-oncology teams at Children's Medical Center Dallas (particularly Dr. Lynn Gargan) and Cook Children's Medical Center for their assistance identifying candidate participants.

Declaration of interest

None of the authors have any interests that might be interpreted as influencing the research. Peter L. Stavinoha is now in the Division of Pediatrics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by a Graduate Research Grant from Psi Chi.