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Grant Details

Grant Number: 5R01CA082378-04 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator: Phipps, Sean
Organization: St. Jude Children'S Research Hospital
Project Title: Measurement of Adaptive Style in Children with Cancer
Fiscal Year: 2003


Abstract

Description (adapted from investigator's abstract): The construct of adaptive style provides a heuristic model for understanding the frequently reported findings of lower self-reports of psychological distress in children with cancer, in comparison to healthy children. Assessment of adaptive style allows for differentiation between truly low anxious individuals, who accurately report low levels of distress, and repressors, who maladaptively avoid the perception of negative affect of distress. In adults, repressive adaptation has been associated with altered patterns of physiological response to stress, and is related to numerous adverse health outcomes. Such relationships have not yet been studied in children. Recent studies have demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of repressors in children with cancer relative to healthy children, which accounts, in part, for the lower levels of distress by self-report in these children. Given the higher incidence of repressive adaptation in children with cancer, adaptive style may be a particularly important predictor of health outcomes in this population. The present proposal aims to improve measurement of adaptive style in children by combining self-report and psychophysiological assessment techniques, while examining the clinical significance of adaptive style in children undergoing treatment for cancer. The specific aims of the project are: 1) To determine the physiological concomitants of adaptive style in healthy children and children with cancer; 2) To assess the concordance in measurement of adaptive style by self-report and physiological indices; and 3) to determine the relationship of adaptive style to tolerance of anti-cancer therapy in children with recently diagnosed malignancies. These aims will be accomplished through two related studies. Study 1 will use a two group, case control design, pairing children who have completed treatment for cancer with healthy children matched on age, race, and gender. Participants will complete a battery of self report measures assessing adaptive style and then undergo physiological monitoring (heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, skin conductance, salivary cortisol) in a laboratory stress assessment task. Study 2 utilizes a single group, short term longitudinal design to determine the significance of adaptive style as a predictor of tolerance to anti-cancer therapy in terms of treatment side effects, acute toxicities and medical complications. Newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients will undergo an identical procedure of self-report measures, stress tasks, and physiological assessment to assess adaptive style, and then be followed prospectively for 6 months while on active therapy. This study will advance knowledge regarding adaptive style in children, which can help to improve identification of truly distressed and non-distressed children, as well as those who may be at high risk for adverse healthy outcomes as a function of adaptive style.



Publications

Concordance of parent proxy report and child self-report of posttraumatic stress in children with cancer and healthy children: influence of parental posttraumatic stress.
Authors: Clawson A.H. , Jurbergs N. , Lindwall J. , Phipps S. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2013 Nov; 22(11), p. 2593-600.
PMID: 23723147
Related Citations

Adaptive style and physiological reactivity during a laboratory stress paradigm in children with cancer and healthy controls.
Authors: Williams N.A. , Allen M.T. , Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Behavioral Medicine, 2011 Oct; 34(5), p. 372-80.
PMID: 21305350
Related Citations

Optimism and pessimism in children with cancer and healthy children: confirmatory factor analysis of the youth life orientation test and relations with health-related quality of life.
Authors: Williams N.A. , Davis G. , Hancock M. , Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2010 Jul; 35(6), p. 672-82.
PMID: 19797406
Related Citations

Brief report: Children's response to serious illness: perceptions of benefit and burden in a pediatric cancer population.
Authors: Currier J.M. , Hermes S. , Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2009 Nov-Dec; 34(10), p. 1129-34.
PMID: 19342537
Related Citations

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress in children with cancer: does personality trump health status?
Authors: Phipps S. , Jurbergs N. , Long A. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2009 Sep; 18(9), p. 992-1002.
PMID: 19177432
Related Citations

Stressful life events and posttraumatic stress symptoms in children with cancer.
Authors: Currier J.M. , Jobe-Shields L.E. , Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Traumatic Stress, 2009 Feb; 22(1), p. 28-35.
PMID: 19117041
Related Citations

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress in parents of children with cancer: are they elevated relative to parents of healthy children?
Authors: Jurbergs N. , Long A. , Ticona L. , Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2009 Jan-Feb; 34(1), p. 4-13.
PMID: 18073235
Related Citations

The Anger Expression Scale for Children: initial validation among healthy children and children with cancer.
Authors: Steele R.G. , Legerski J.P. , Nelson T.D. , Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2009 Jan-Feb; 34(1), p. 51-62.
PMID: 18556672
Related Citations

Benefit Finding Scale for Children: preliminary findings from a childhood cancer population.
Authors: Phipps S. , Long A.M. , Ogden J. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2007 Nov-Dec; 32(10), p. 1264-71.
PMID: 17210581
Related Citations

Adaptive style in children with cancer: implications for a positive psychology approach.
Authors: Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2007 Oct; 32(9), p. 1055-66.
PMID: 17698880
Related Citations

Self-report of somatic symptoms in survivors of childhood cancer: effects of adaptive style.
Authors: Jurbergs N. , Long A. , Hudson M. , Phipps S. .
Source: Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 2007 Jul; 49(1), p. 84-9.
PMID: 16847928
Related Citations

Assessment of health-related quality of life in children with cancer: consistency and agreement between parent and child reports.
Authors: Russell K.M. , Hudson M. , Long A. , Phipps S. .
Source: Cancer, 2006-05-15 00:00:00.0; 106(10), p. 2267-74.
PMID: 16604563
Related Citations

Adaptive style and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in children with cancer and their parents.
Authors: Phipps S. , Larson S. , Long A. , Rai S.N. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2006 Apr; 31(3), p. 298-309.
PMID: 15917493
Related Citations

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress in children with cancer and their parents: effects of informant and time from diagnosis.
Authors: Phipps S. , Long A. , Hudson M. , Rai S.N. .
Source: Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 2005 Dec; 45(7), p. 952-9.
PMID: 15806541
Related Citations

Commentary: contexts and challenges in pediatric psychosocial oncology research: chasing moving targets and embracing "good news" outcomes.
Authors: Phipps S. .
Source: Journal Of Pediatric Psychology, 2005 Jan-Feb; 30(1), p. 41-5.
PMID: 15610983
Related Citations



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