Date Approved

2024

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department or School

Psychology

Committee Member

Michelle Byrd, PhD

Committee Member

Natalie Dove, PhD

Committee Member

Eamonn Arble, PhD

Committee Member

Heather Janisse, PhD

Committee Member

Amy Naugle, PhD

Abstract

Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for a variety of adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in a small, but notable, minority of childhood cancer survivors. Little is known about modifiable factors that may increase the risk of developing PTSD as a young adult survivor. One of the difficulties that has been minimally explored in this group is exposure to the deaths of other children with cancer, despite a 25% 15- year mortality rate among children who are diagnosed with cancer. The current study was among the first to explore potential impacts of this high mortality rate on survivors: the experience of losing a friend to childhood cancer (peer loss) and feelings of guilt or shame related to survivorship (survivor guilt). The current study employed quantitative and qualitative methods as well as comparisons between survivors with and without personal history of peer loss. Nearly a quarter of participants endorsed that they frequently experience cancer-related survivor guilt. Posttraumatic stress was significantly correlated with survivor guilt, but not with exposure to peer loss. Findings indicate that survivor guilt is a significant concern for childhood cancer survivors, and more research is needed to understand the role of peer loss.

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