Parents’ Views of the Impact of Childhood Brain Tumours and Treatment on Young People’s Social and Family Functioning

Abstract

This article describes the long-term impact of childhood brain tumours on eight families, using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Two major themes emerged from the data: the impact of the illness and treatment on the child's current functioning, and how parents live day-today with the threat of future relapse or further long-term physical and psychological complications. A number of subcategories emerged from these themes, including the difficulties obtaining special educational needs, the manner in which children overcame their physical limitations and the problems caused by peer exclusion and bullying. In discussing the way in which parents and children cope with the problems caused by the tumour, and the possible clinical implications that have emerged from the data, we have drawn upon a number of theoretical concepts, derived from discrepancy theory and coping theory.

Social competence in childhood brain tumor survivors: a comprehensive review

“…Vance and colleagues [35] uncovered two consistent themes after conducting semistructured interviews: (1) peer exclusion and being bullied; and (2) the discrepancy between their child's social relationships prior to cancer treatment and the subsequent downfall with peers following the return to school. As well, in Upton and Eiser's study, [34] almost half the mothers of children with brain tumors reported their child was socially isolated and half of these mothers felt their child's behavior limited social opportunities.…”

Temperament and Social Behavior in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors and Comparison Peers

“…Both anecdotally and qualitatively, parents have expressed how their child seems ''different'' following treatment (Vance, Eiser, & Horne, 2004). Assisting parents in processing these changes and developing an understanding or expectation of these changes may be helpful, particularly because family processes may moderate the extent to which neurocognitive impact may influence psychosocial outcomes (Patel & Carlson-Green, 2005).…”

Competence in caregivers of adolescent and young adult childhood brain tumor survivors.

“…The demands or burdens experienced by caregivers are associated with reports of their health; caregivers who experience more demands report less optimal health (Klassen et al, 2007; Klassen et al, 2011; Raina et al, 2004; Vance, Eiser, & Horne, 2004). As Raina proposed, caregivers who perceive that their survivor has less than optimal health undergo more caregiver demands (Bandura, 1991; Hovén et al, 2011), a relationship which is also tested in this research.…”