STRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND NEGATIVE AFFECTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH NEWLY-DIAGNOSED CANCER - A PROSPECTIVE TRANSACTIONAL-ANALYSIS

Conceptually-driven investigations on the potentially modifiable predi ctors of individual differences among children with newly-diagnosed ca ncer may facilitate the identification of pediatric cancer patients at risk for maladjustment during the profound adversity associated with this life-threatening disease and aversive biomedical treatment. Withi n a risk and resistance theoretical framework, perceived stress and so cial support were investigated concurrently and prospectively within a n exploratory design as predictors of negative affectivity (anxiety an d depressive symptoms composite construct) in newly-diagnosed pediatri c cancer patients at Time 1 (within one month after diagnosis), Time 2 (6 months postdiagnosis), and Time 3 (9 months postdiagnosis). Hierar chical multiple regression analysis findings indicate that perceived s tress and social support have direct and independent effects on negati ve affectivity principally at the 9-month time interval. These finding s are discussed in terms of the cognitive-behavioral treatment implica tions for enhancing child adjustment during the transition from the in itial cancer diagnosis and aversive biomedical treatment to subsequent school and social reintegration. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.