Repressive adaptation in children with cancer: A replication and extension

Prior research has shown a higher incidence of a repressive adaptive style in children with cancer. To explore whether repressive adaptation in this p opulation is premorbid or reactive, adaptive style was assessed longitudina lly in children with cancer at the time of diagnosis and at 6 months and I year after diagnosis. Comparison groups included healthy children and child ren with other serious but nonmalignant chronic illnesses. At diagnosis, ch ildren with cancer showed a higher incidence of a repressive adaptive style than healthy children, and the incidence of repressive adaptation remained stable over time. Children with other chronic illnesses also showed levels of repressive adaptive style comparable to the cancer group. These finding s suggest a shift toward repressiveness in response to the diagnosis of can cer that is then maintained over time and necessitate further examination o f the health consequences of adaptive style in this population.