Posttraumatic stress in survivors of childhood cancer and mothers: Development and validation of the Impact of Traumatic Stressors Interview Schedule(ITSIS)
Ae. Kazak et al., Posttraumatic stress in survivors of childhood cancer and mothers: Development and validation of the Impact of Traumatic Stressors Interview Schedule(ITSIS), J CL P MED, 8(4), 2001, pp. 307-323
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN MEDICAL SETTINGS
This study presents initial data validating the use of a new instrument, th
e Impact of Traumatic Stressors Interview Schedule (ITSIS), to assess the o
ccurrence of cancer-related posttraumatic stress in childhood cancer surviv
ors and their mothers. Sixty-six child/adolescent cancer survivors and 64 o
f their mothers, as well as 130 young adult survivors, completed the ITSIS
and other measures of posttraumatic stress and general distress. Five ITSIS
factors were identified for the mothers and for the young adult survivors,
and three ITSIS factors were identified for the child/adolescent survivors
. Factors in all three samples reflected symptoms of posttraumatic distress
, concern over medical late effects, communication, and changes in self due
to cancer. Only young adult survivors had a factor reflecting a positive e
ngagement with the cancer history. Factors correlated with validation measu
res in predicted ways. The findings further the conceptualization of posttr
aumatic stress in pediatric cancer by describing the traumatic experience f
or survivors and mothers. Comparing factors across samples allows an examin
ation of different influences of cancer within families and over the course
of development.