The effects of self-efficacy and social support on behavior problems in 8~18 years old children with malignant tumors

PLoS One. 2020 Jul 31;15(7):e0236648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236648. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the influence factors of behavior problems of 8~18 years old children with malignant tumors in the treatment period, as well as the mediating effects of social support self-efficacy and post-traumatic growth.

Methods: From May 2019 to October 2019, 160 children with malignant tumors during the treatment were selected through convenience sampling method, and were investigated via the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Social Support Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Growth Scale and Conners' Parent Symptom Questionnaire. Structural equation model was established on the basis of survey results.

Results: The total detection rate of behavior problems in 8~18 years old children with malignant tumors was 10.6%. The structural equation models indicated that boys had more behavior problems than girls, self-efficacy, social support and post-traumatic growth can directly affect the behavior problems of 8~18 years old children with malignant tumors in the treatment period, and the standardized total effect of self-efficacy in both of the first model and the second model was the largest. Self-efficacy is also able to indirectly and negatively predict the behavior problems based on social support or post-traumatic growth. Social support can directly affect behavior problems or indirectly predict behavior problems through self-efficacy and post-traumatic growth. After 2000 bootstrap tests, the mediating effects of social support self-efficacy and post-traumatic growth were confirmed.

Conclusion: Reduced total detection rate of behavior problems suggests that targeted interventions in recent years may be effective. Interventions focused on improving self-efficacy, social support and post-traumatic growth may lessen behavior problems of children with malignant tumors in the treatment period.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Problem Behavior / psychology*
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau, China(grant number: cstc2018jscx-msybX0110). I am in charge of this project