Psychological Well-Being, Cognitive Functioning, and Quality of Life in 205 Adolescent and Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors Compared to Healthy Peers

Abstract

The majority of the studies underlined how adolescent and young adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors had no significant differences in their well-being and quality of life compared with a control group of healthy counterparts, although French et al. (2013) found less years of education among cancer survivors. The present study aimed at comparing AYA cancer survivors and a control group of peers who had no history of serious illness, in terms of well-being, cognitive functioning, and perceptions of life. Participants in this study were 205 AYA cancer survivors, 126 males, off therapy from a mean of 10.87 years (SD = 4.91), with a mean age of 18.96 (SD = 3.08), recruited during follow-up visits and healthy counterparts (n = 205), matched for age and gender. They all completed self-report questionnaires: Ladder of Life, BSI-18 and Cognitive problems. Paired t test evidenced significant differences between survivors (Mean = 6.19; SD = 2.07) and controls (Mean = 6.88; SD = 2.02) in perceptions of quality of life regarding 5 years before the current time [t ₍₂₀₄₎ = -3.39; p = 0.001], with a lower level for childhood cancer survivors. Specifically, Hierarchical regression (R ² = 0.05, p = 0.04) identified a shorter time since the completion of treatment (β = 0.18, p = 0.03) and a trend of stem cell transplantation experience (β = -0.11, p = 0.06) as factors associated with negative perception of precedent quality of life. The AYA cancer survivors reported lower cognitive difficulties (Mean = 1.46) than controls (Mean = 1.56) [t ₍₂₀₄₎ = -3.41; p = 0.001]: in memory (Mean_clinical = 1.32 vs Mean_control = 1.50) [t ₍₂₀₄₎ = -4.52; p = 0.001], in concentration (Mean _clinical = 1.36 vs Mean_control = 1.54) [t ₍₂₀₄₎ = -4.66; p = 0.001] and in mental organization skills (Mean _clinical = 1.47 vs Mean_control = 1.56) [t ₍₂₀₄₎ = -2.56; p = 0.01], even if they had a lower educational attainment [X ${}_{\left(9\right)}^2$ = 131.28; p = 0.001]. They showed similar satisfaction with their psychological well-being and their lives as healthy counterparts, except for past life perceptions associated with the cancer period. Important recommendations for future research and clinical suggestions could be given.

Keywords: AYA cancer survivors; cognitive functioning; healthy peers; life perceptions; psychological well-being.