PERCEIVED PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND ADJUSTMENT OF CHILDREN WITH NEWLY-DIAGNOSED CANCER - A PATH ANALYTIC MODEL

More intensive medical treatment protocols have been initiated with th e goal of improving survival of pediatric cancer patients. Evaluation of the adjustment of this cohort of children with newly diagnosed canc er being treated with these modern regimens is essential in order to e nhance quality of life. Children with cancer who experience disease an d treatment-related changes in physical appearance are hypothesized to be at greater risk for psychological and social adjustment problems g iven society's attitudes toward visible physical differences. Within a risk and resistance theoretical framework, perceived physical appeara nce was investigated as a predictor of depressive symptoms, social anx iety, and general self-esteem in newly diagnosed pediatric cancer pati ents. In support of the a priori conceptual model, path analysis findi ngs indicate that perceived physical appearance has direct and indirec t effects on depressive symptoms and social anxiety with the indirect effects mediated by general self-esteem. Exploratory analysis suggests that the effect of perceived physical appearance on general self-este em may be attenuated by modifiable competence/adequacy domains which h ave implications for the development of treatment interventions for ch ildren with newly diagnosed cancer.