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Life satisfaction in adult survivors of cancer during adolescence: what contributes to the latter satisfaction with life?

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare the general and health-related life satisfaction (LS) in long-term survivors of adolescent cancer with a community sample and to identify medical and psychosocial factors associated with LS.

Methods

LS of 820 survivors (age M = 30.4 ± 6.0 years; time since diagnosis M = 13.7 ± 6.0 years) was assessed with the Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZM) and compared to an age- and sex-matched community sample. The effects of medical, psychological, and socio-demographical factors on the survivors’ general and health-related LS were investigated by means of multiple regression analyses.

Results

Survivors were significantly less satisfied than the comparison group in terms of both their general (P < .001, d = −.35) and health-related (P < .001, d = −.47) life. Somatic late effects, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and less posttraumatic growth were associated with impaired general and health-related LS. Moreover, being married contributed significantly to higher general LS.

Conclusion

Adult survivors of cancer with onset during adolescence are experiencing less LS than the general population. Long-term routine follow-up visits are recommended to identify persisting effects of cancer survival on LS and to provide support for those with special needs. Physicians need to pay special attention to potential risk factors such as psychological distress, somatic late effects, persistent psychological distress, and a lack of posttraumatic growth, which are negatively correlated with LS.

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Abbreviations

DSM-IV:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition

FLZM :

Fragen zur LebenszufriedenheitModule (Questions on Life SatisfactionModules)

GCCR:

German Childhood Cancer Registry

HADS:

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (German Version)

ICCC-3:

International Classification of Childhood Cancer, Third Edition

LS:

Life satisfaction

PDS:

Posttraumatic stress diagnostic scale

PTGI:

Posttraumatic growth inventory

PTSD:

Posttraumatic stress disorder

QoL:

Quality of life

SOEP:

Socio-economic panel

SPSS:

Statistical package for social sciences

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Acknowledgments

The study was funded by the Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., Bonn, Germany (Reference Number 107452).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany

    Diana C. M. Seitz, Daniela Hagmann, Tanja Besier, Ute Dieluweit & Lutz Goldbeck

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Ulm, Eythstraße 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany

    Klaus-Michael Debatin

  3. German Childhood Cancer Registry at the Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55101, Mainz, Germany

    Desiree Grabow & Peter Kaatsch

  4. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Langerstr 3, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Gerhard Henrich

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  1. Diana C. M. Seitz
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Correspondence to Diana C. M. Seitz.

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Seitz, D.C.M., Hagmann, D., Besier, T. et al. Life satisfaction in adult survivors of cancer during adolescence: what contributes to the latter satisfaction with life?. Qual Life Res 20, 225–236 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9739-9

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