Abstract

CAPRINI, Fernanda Rosalem  and  MOTTA, Alessandra Brunoro. Childhood cancer: an impact analysis diagnosis. Psicol. teor. prat. [online]. 2017, vol.19, n.2, pp. 164-176. ISSN 1516-3687.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1980-6906/psicologia.v19n2p161-173.

The diagnosis of cancer has a significant impact on both patients and their families, as potential stressors put them in a situation of vulnerability. With the purpose of analyzing the psychosocial impact of childhood cancer diagnosis this research was attended by 12 children, aged from 6 to 12 years (M = 8.75, SD = 2.05), and theirs caregivers, in a hospital in Grande Vitória, in Espirito Santo, Brazil. The coping with the hospitalization (Coping with Hospitalization Scale) and psychosocial risk (Psychosocial Assessment Tool / PAT) were evaluated. Social-demographic and clinical variables were evaluated (medical records). Data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis. The family presented clinical psychosocial risk. About coping, adaptive strategies were verified, as distraction and social support and also less adaptive strategies, as rumination. This study presents contributions to children coping and indicates possible sources of psychological intervention.

Keywords : coping; childhood cancer; psycho-oncology; psychosocial risk; pediatric psychology.

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