Quality of life and behavioral adjustment after pediatric bone marrow transplantation

The purpose of this study was two-fold: to describe the quality of life and behavioral adjustment of survivors of pediatric bone marrow transplantatio n (BMT) prior to and 6 months post-BMT; and, to identify correlates of surv ivors' quality of life and behavioral adjustment. Participants were 26 chil dren and adolescents who underwent BMT, and their mothers. At pre- and 6 mo nths post BMT, mothers completed standardized measures of their children's behavioral adjustment, quality of life, and adaptive functioning. Self-repo rt questionnaires were completed to determine levels of maternal anxiety an d depression, and family functioning. Information was also gathered about d emographic variables, medical history, and symptom severity. Children's ove rall quality of life improved 6 months post BMT and was most strongly assoc iated with pre-BMT levels of family cohesion. Children's behavioral adjustm ent remained within the normal range across time and was associated with pr e-BMT levels of family cohesion and child adaptive functioning, Mothers' ps ychological adjustment improved over time and was associated with quality o f life, but unrelated to children's behavioral adjustment. Pre-BMT levels o f family cohesion and child adaptive functioning appear to be important in understanding quality of life and behavioral adjustment of pediatric BMT su rvivors.