POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS, FAMILY FUNCTIONING, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA AND THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS

Psychological sequelae are examined in 130 former childhood leukemia p atients and 155 comparison participants and their parents. The major d ependent variables are symptoms of anxiety and posttraumatic stress, f amily functioning, and social support, Multivariate analyses of covari ance indicated significantly more posttraumatic stress symptoms in mot hers and fathers of childhood leukemia survivors (p < .001) and no dif ferences between survivors and peers. There were no significant group differences for family functioning or social support, although they we re associated with anxiety and posttraumatic stress outcomes. Current child age, age at diagnosis, and months off treatment were not signifi cantly correlated with outcome. These findings document the long-term impact of childhood cancer treatment on parents. The lack of significa nt differences for survivors argues for further attention to the relev ance of posttraumatic stress disorder for childhood cancer survivors. The clinical implications are that psychological interventions are nee ded during and after cancer treatment.