Relations among optimism, perceived health vulnerability, and academic, self-regulatory, and social self-efficacy in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer

Rebecca H Foster; Claire C Russell; Robyn Dillon; Matthew J Bitsko; Kamar Godder; Marilyn Stern

doi:10.1080/07347332.2013.874000

Relations among optimism, perceived health vulnerability, and academic, self-regulatory, and social self-efficacy in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer

J Psychosoc Oncol. 2014;32(2):207-23. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2013.874000.

Authors

Rebecca H Foster¹, Claire C Russell, Robyn Dillon, Matthew J Bitsko, Kamar Godder, Marilyn Stern

Affiliation

¹ a Department of Psychology , Winona State University , Winona , MN , USA.

PMID: 24364903
DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2013.874000

Abstract

This study investigated relations among optimism, perceived health vulnerability, treatment intensity, and academic, self-regulatory, and social self-efficacy in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Fifty-six adolescent survivors (Mage = 16.19 years, SD = 2.48) completed questionnaires. Compared to a previously published sample of adolescents without a history of cancer, survivors reported similar academic, higher self-regulatory, and lower social self-efficacy. Optimism and health vulnerability were associated with changes in academic, self-regulatory, and social self-efficacy. Cancer-specific variables (e.g., treatment intensity, time since treatment ended) were unrelated to self-efficacy. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-efficacy may benefit from exploring optimism and health vulnerabilities as mechanisms for change.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attitude to Health*
Educational Status
Female
Humans
Male
Neoplasms / psychology*
Neoplasms / therapy*
Risk Assessment
Self Efficacy
Social Behavior
Social Control, Informal
Surveys and Questionnaires
Survivors / psychology*
Survivors / statistics & numerical data