Abstract
The purpose of this study was two-fold: to describe the quality of life and behavioral adjustment of survivors of pediatric bone marrow transplantation (BMT) prior to and 6 months post-BMT; and, to identify correlates of survivors’ quality of life and behavioral adjustment. Participants were 26 children and adolescents who underwent BMT, and their mothers. At pre- and 6 months post BMT, mothers completed standardized measures of their children's behavioral adjustment, quality of life, and adaptive functioning. Self-report questionnaires were completed to determine levels of maternal anxiety and depression, and family functioning. Information was also gathered about demographic variables, medical history, and symptom severity. Children's overall quality of life improved 6 months post BMT and was most strongly associated with pre-BMT levels of family cohesion. Children's behavioral adjustment remained within the normal range across time and was associated with pre-BMT levels of family cohesion and child adaptive functioning. Mothers’ psychological adjustment improved over time and was associated with quality of life, but unrelated to children's behavioral adjustment. Pre-BMT levels of family cohesion and child adaptive functioning appear to be important in understanding quality of life and behavioral adjustment of pediatric BMT survivors. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26, 427–435.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, New Initiatives, and the Research Institute, for providing funding for this research. We also thank Norma D'Agostino for her comments on an early version of this paper. We are most grateful to the families who agreed so generously to participate in this study at a highly stressful time.
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Barrera, M., Pringle, LA., Sumbler, K. et al. Quality of life and behavioral adjustment after pediatric bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 26, 427–435 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702527
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702527
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