School of Social Work, University of Michigan and Socio-Behavioral Program, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1106, USA.
Cancer. 2011 May 15;117(10 Suppl):2289-94. doi: 10.1002/cncr.26056.
Theories of human development suggest that, although all cancer patients experience a common set of life disruptions, they experience them differently, focus on different issues, and attach different levels of importance to different aspects of the experience depending on the time in life at which they were diagnosed. During the critical developmental transition from childhood to adulthood, older adolescents and young adults in particular have typical concerns with establishing identity, developing a positive body image and sexual identity, separating from parents, increasing involvement with peers and dating, and beginning to make decisions about careers or employment, higher education, and/or family. Accordingly, cancer-related issues such as premature confrontation with mortality, changes in physical appearance, increased dependence on parents, disruptions in social life and school/employment because of treatment, loss of reproductive capacity, and health-related concerns about the future may be particularly distressing for adolescents and young adults. Psychosocial and behavioral interventions for young adult cancer patients and survivors often involve assisting these individuals in retaining or returning to function in significant social roles, such as spouse, parent, student, worker, or friend. Successful interventions will enable these young people to overcome the detrimental impact of a health crisis and strengthen the internal and external coping resources available to them.
人类发展理论表明，尽管所有癌症患者都经历着一组共同的生活困扰，但他们的体验方式不同，关注的问题也不同，并根据诊断时所处的人生阶段，对体验的不同方面赋予不同的重要性。在从儿童期到成年期的关键发展过渡期间，特别是年龄较大的青少年和年轻人，他们通常会关注建立身份认同、发展积极的身体形象和性认同、与父母分离、增加与同龄人交往和约会、以及开始做出关于职业或就业、高等教育和/或家庭的决策。因此，与癌症相关的问题，如过早面临死亡、身体外貌的变化、对父母的依赖增加、因治疗而导致社会生活和学校/工作中断、丧失生育能力以及对未来健康的担忧，可能会对青少年和年轻人造成特别的困扰。针对年轻癌症患者和幸存者的心理社会和行为干预措施通常包括帮助这些人保持或恢复在重要社会角色中的功能，如配偶、父母、学生、工人或朋友。成功的干预措施将使这些年轻人能够克服健康危机的不利影响，并增强他们可用的内部和外部应对资源。
