1. Trajectories of social isolation in adult survivors of childhood cancer
- Author
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A. Fuchsia Howard, Kirsten Smillie, Jason Tan de Bibiana, Robert Olson, Karen Goddard, Arminée Kazanjian, and Sheila Pritchard
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Social outcomes ,Survivorship ,Models, Psychological ,Article ,Developmental psychology ,Hope ,Young Adult ,Interpersonal relationship ,Neoplasms ,Survivorship curve ,medicine ,Humans ,Interpersonal Relations ,Survivors ,Age of Onset ,Social isolation ,Young adult ,Qualitative Research ,Childhood cancer survivor ,Oncology(nursing) ,Oncology (nursing) ,Social perception ,Public health ,Neoplasms, Second Primary ,Adolescent and young adult ,humanities ,3. Good health ,Social Perception ,Socioeconomic Factors ,Oncology ,Personal Autonomy ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Qualitative ,Psychology ,Attitude to Health ,Psychosocial ,Forecasting ,Qualitative research - Abstract
Purpose Long-term childhood cancer survivors may be at increased risk for poor social outcomes as a result of their cancer treatment, as well as physical and psychological health problems. Yet, important challenges, namely social isolation, are not well understood. Moreover, survivors' perspectives of social isolation as well as the ways in which this might evolve through young adulthood have yet to be investigated. The purpose of this research was to describe the trajectories of social isolation experienced by adult survivors of a childhood cancer. Methods Data from 30 in-depth interviews with survivors (9 to 38 years after diagnosis, currently 22 to 43 years of age, 60 % women) were analyzed using qualitative, constant comparative methods. Results Experiences of social isolation evolved over time as survivors grew through childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Eleven survivors never experienced social isolation after their cancer treatment, nor to the present day. Social isolation among 19 survivors followed one of three trajectories; (1) diminishing social isolation: it got somewhat better, (2) persistent social isolation: it never got better or (3) delayed social isolation: it hit me later on. Conclusions Knowledge of when social isolation begins and how it evolves over time for different survivors is an important consideration for the development of interventions that prevent or mitigate this challenge. Implications for Cancer Survivors Assessing and addressing social outcomes, including isolation, might promote comprehensive long-term follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors.
- Published
- 2013