Longitudinal Dyadic Associations in Benefit Finding and in Fear of Cancer Recurrence Between Childhood Cancer Survivors and Their Parents: Examining Actor and Partner Effects.

Abstract

Background and aim: Childhood cancer survivors and their parents report both positive and negative psychological late effects, such as fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and benefit finding. The current study investigated longitudinal dyadic associations among childhood cancer survivors, their mothers, and fathers in benefit finding and FCR to obtain an in-depth understanding of family functioning after pediatric cancer.

Methods: This three-wave longitudinal study (covering 2 years) included survivors (aged 14-24, time since diagnosis 2-22 years at T1) and their parents; all reported on benefit finding and FCR. Reciprocal effects in three dyads were examined: (1) survivor-mother dyad (n = 114 at T1), (2) survivor-father dyad (n = 82 at T1), and (3) mother-father dyad (n = 80 at T1). Cross-lagged panel models examined actor and partner effects across time for benefit finding and FCR separately.

Results: Actor effects were significant in all models. Dyadic partner effects were found between parents. First, mothers' benefit finding predicted relative increases in fathers' benefit finding across both time intervals. Second, mothers' FCR predicted relative increases in fathers' FCR from T1 to T2, and fathers' FCR predicted relative increases in mothers' FCR from T2 to T3. Moreover, significant correlated changes were found between parents' FCR at T2 and T3.

Conclusion: Results support substantial actor effects and some dyadic partner effects between parents in experiencing psychological late effects. To improve survivorship care for families, psychological late effects of each family member and their interplay between members-especially among parents-needs to be taken into account, both in research and clinical practice.