Impact of sociodemographic factors, stress, and communication on health-related quality of life in survivors of pediatric cancer.

BACKGROUND

While most research has largely focused on medical risks associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in survivors, sociodemographic and family factors may also play a role. Thus, we longitudinally examined sociodemographic factors and family factors associated with survivor HRQOL, including adolescent's cancer-specific stress, mother's general stress, and mother-adolescent communication.

METHODS

Mothers (N = 80) and survivors (ages 10-23, N = 50) were assessed 5 years following initial diagnosis. Mothers completed measures regarding sociodemographic background adolescent's cancer-specific stress, mother's general stress, mother-adolescent communication, and adolescent HRQOL. Survivors also reported on their own HRQOL. Two hierarchical multiple regressions examined predictors of (a) mother's report of adolescent HRQOL, and (b) survivor's self-report of HRQOL.

RESULTS

The final model predicting mother-reported adolescent HRQOL was significant, F(5,74) = 21.18, p < .001, and explained 59% of the variance in HRQoL. Significant predictors included adolescent stress (β = -.37, p < .001), mothers' stress (β = -.42, p < .001), and communication (β = .19, p = .03). The final model predicting survivor-reported HRQOL was also significant, F(5,44) = 5.16, p < .01 and explained 24% of the variance in HRQOL. Significant predictors included adolescent stress (β = -.37, p = .01) and communication (β = -.31, p = .04). Sociodemographic factors were not a significant predictor of HRQOL in any model.

CONCLUSION

Family stress and communication offer potential points of intervention to improve HRQOL of pediatric cancer survivors from mother and survivor perspectives. While additional research is needed, healthcare professionals should encourage stress management and strong mother-child communication to enhance survivors' long-term HRQOL. Such interventions may be complimentary to efforts targeting the known sociodemographic factors that often affect health.