Psychosocial factors impacting pediatric cancer survivorship

There are increasing numbers of adults who are survivors of childhood cancer.This literature review focuses on the psychosocial sequelae of that survivorship.Theoretical models of adjustment as well as empirically based models ofpsychosocial factors which impact pediatric cancer survivorship are discussed.Although most studies in the past two decades have found pediatric survivorsand their parents suffer no long-term psychological effects from the diseasecourse, contradictory studies suggest certain children are predisposed to increased psychological distress, as are many parents of survivors. With pediatric cancer survivors emerging into adulthood, medical and psychologicallate effects related to the disease and its treatment become more salient. Clinical implications for psychologists who work with this population are discussed, along with suggested future directions for research