This study investigated the correlates of well-being with psychosocial and clinical factors in young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCS) above and beyond depressive symptoms. Participants were from the Project Forward… Click to show full abstract
This study investigated the correlates of well-being with psychosocial and clinical factors in young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCS) above and beyond depressive symptoms. Participants were from the Project Forward Cohort, a population-based study of young adult survivors of childhood cancers. Participants (n = 1166, Mage = 25.1 years) were recruited through the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program (Cancer Registry covering Los Angeles County). A majority received a diagnosis of leukemia (36.1%) or lymphoma (21.7%). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires at one timepoint. Multiple regression analyses were performed with well-being as the outcome variable and psychosocial and clinical variables (social support, sense of adulthood, posttraumatic growth, treatment intensity, and self-rated health) as the independent variables. Covariates included demographics (age, gender, relationship status, race/ethnicity) and depressive symptoms. In the multivariable model, posttraumatic growth, social support, sense of adulthood, and self-rated health were significantly associated with well-being (all ps < .05), when controlling for depressive symptoms. Treatment intensity and years since diagnosis were not significantly associated with well-being, when controlling for depressive symptoms. There are unique correlates of well-being above and beyond depressive symptoms among YACCS. This finding illuminates individual differences that may be associated with well-being and provides targets for intervention. Psychosocial interventions and survivorship care for YACCS should consider the broad aspects of well-being, independent of depressive symptoms.
               
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