Article
Psychology, Social
Juliana Alba-Suarez, Savannah L. Davidson, Courtney Priebe, Puja Patel, Emily Greenspahn, Lori Boucher, Erin M. Rodriguez
Summary: This study examines the impact of pediatric cancer on parents' partner relationship and mental health, and how it relates to emotional/behavioral problems in patients and siblings. Results show that poorer relationship adjustment and higher depressive symptoms in parents are correlated with increased emotional/behavioral problems in children with cancer. Targeting the partner relationship through interventions may be beneficial in supporting family adjustment post-diagnosis.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Louise Rixon, Richard P. Hastings, Hanna Kovshoff, Tom Bailey
Summary: A novel methodological approach was used to examine associations between characteristics of autistic children and outcomes for siblings. The study found that even children with mild autism symptoms can affect their siblings' psychological problems and relationship quality if they have behavioral problems. Siblings of autism children in need of more support tend to have more difficulties in warmth relationship, but their own psychological problems may not be significantly increased.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Liana R. Galtieri, Kaitlyn M. Fladeboe, Kevin King, Debra Friedman, Bruce Compas, David Breiger, Liliana Lengua, Madelaine Keim, Sameen Boparai, Lynn Fainsilber Katz
Summary: This study found that perceived financial strain among caregivers of children with cancer decreases over the first year of treatment on average. However, nonmarried caregivers and those with lower income are at risk for higher levels of financial strain over time, which may contribute to psychological maladjustment in caregivers. Caregiver financial strain was not found to be associated with child adjustment.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Melissa A. Faith, Dianna M. Boone, Ashly Healy, Esther Davila
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between parent coping strategies and sibling relationship quality in families of pediatric cancer patients. The findings showed that parents' adaptive coping was positively associated with parent-reported sibling warmth and negatively associated with sibling dominance. Parents' dismissive emotional intelligence beliefs were negatively related to sibling warmth and positively related to conflict. Additionally, when parents had high emotion coaching beliefs, their adaptive coping strategies were positively related to parent-reported sibling warmth.
CHILDRENS HEALTH CARE
(2023)
Review
Family Studies
Shannon Lummer-Aikey, Sara Goldstein
Summary: Healthy siblings of children with chronic illnesses need to adjust to the experiences, psychosocial adjustment, coping, and communication related to the illness. Implications for family nursing and family health practitioners as well as future research directions are presented in the study.
JOURNAL OF FAMILY NURSING
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Anna M. Jones, Emily K. Browne, Kristen Adams, Brian S. Potter, Valerie McLaughlin Crabtree, Niki Jurbergs, R. Elyse Heidelberg, Rachel Tillery Webster
Summary: This study examined the role of transition-focused psychology appointments in preparing families for the transition off therapy. The results showed that caregivers experienced distress during the transition, but those who had received psychology consultations and cognitive assessments felt more informed and prepared, leading to decreased distress.
Article
Oncology
Ju Liu, Jian Yin, Yiwei Liu, Zhijian Xu, Kai Zhang
Summary: The study suggests that the cancer history of an individual's sibling may be a better indicator of cancer risk than that of their parents. Recommendations include participating in opportunistic screening annually, especially for lung cancer and digestive system cancers in individuals with siblings who have been diagnosed with cancer. Genetic services are also essential for these individuals.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Samantha Wilkinson, Alind Gupta, Nicolas Scheuer, Eric Mackay, Paul Arora, Kristian Thorlund, Radek Wasiak, Joshua Ray, Sreeram Ramagopalan, Vivek Subbiah
Summary: The comparative effectiveness study found that alectinib exposure was associated with improved survival compared with ceritinib in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients who were refractory to crizotinib. The results remained robust to various assumptions about unmeasured confounding and missing data in real-world settings.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Dianer Yu, Qian Li, Xiangmeng Wang, Guandong Xu
Summary: Traditional recommenders suffer from confounding bias issue due to hidden confounding factors, limiting their application in recommendations with multiple biases. This paper proposes a novel deconfounded causal learning method called GCRec to debias social network and item group confounders. Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) are utilized to learn high-order representations and efficiently remove these confounders. Experimental results on benchmark datasets demonstrate that GCRec outperforms state-of-the-art methods and achieves robust recommendations.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Shelby L. Langer, Joan M. Romano, Francis Keefe, Donald H. Baucom, Timothy Strauman, Karen L. Syrjala, Niall Bolger, John Burns, Jonathan B. Bricker, Michael Todd, Brian R. W. Baucom, Melanie S. Fischer, Neeta Ghosh, Julie Gralow, Veena Shankaran, S. Yousuf Zafar, Kelly Westbrook, Karena Leo, Katherine Ramos, Danielle M. Weber, Laura S. Porter
Summary: Cancer and its treatment present challenges for patients and their partners, impacting their psychological adjustment and relationship quality. Effective communication between couples plays a crucial role in their well-being. This project aims to examine and compare two conceptual models of couple communication and evaluate different assessment methods. The results will inform theory, measurement, and the development of effective interventions to optimize the well-being of both patients and partners.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Puja J. Umaretiya, Anna Revette, Anna Seo, Yael Flamand, Lenka Ilcisin, Daniel J. Zheng, Smita Bhatia, Joanne Wolfe, Kira Bona
Summary: The study developed a poverty-targeted intervention PediCARE for pediatric oncology families, with high satisfaction among participants and recommendations for others to participate. Qualitative feedback was used to rapidly refine the intervention.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nashid Islam, A. K. M. Motiur Rahman Bhuiyan, Afroja Alam, Mostofa Kamal Chowdhury, Jheelam Biswas, Palash Chandra Banik, Md. Maruf Ahmed Molla, Mostofa Monwar Kowshik, Mridul Sarker, Nezamuddin Ahmed
Summary: This study aims to explore the different coping strategies adopted by women with metastatic breast cancer and their relationship with mental health issues. The findings indicate that positive coping helps patients adapt to the disease and routine screening and assessment should be conducted to address psychological distress and improve quality of life.
Article
Oncology
Farya Phillips, Elizabeth A. Prezio, Jennifer Currin-McCulloch, Barbara L. Jones
Summary: This study tested the effectiveness of the psychosocial intervention program Wonders & Worries aimed at children with a parent who has cancer. The results showed that the intervention significantly improved family quality of life, parenting concerns, and parenting self-efficacy. However, it did not have a significant impact on the ill parent's anxiety and depression, family functioning, and the child's anxiety.
Article
Education, Special
Preeti Jajodia, Paramita Roy
Summary: This paper analyzes the experiences of typically developing children who grow up with siblings with disabilities. It seeks to understand the negative experiences they face through interviews with the siblings, their parents, and experts in child development and child mental health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISABILITY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Economics
Michael Chletsos, Andreas Sintos
Summary: This study finds that both IMF program participation and conditionality increase the size of the shadow economy, with structural conditions having a more significant impact. Financial development can reduce the size of the shadow economy, yet it cannot reverse the detrimental effect of IMF conditions. The initial results of the study are robust across alternative empirical specifications.
STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND ECONOMIC DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Alexandra C. Himelhoch, Taylor M. Datillo, Marrit A. Tuinman, Cynthia A. Gerhardt, Vicky Lehmann
Summary: The study found that childhood cancer survivors with children, older age, or longer survivorship had more positive attitudes towards parenthood. Survivors burdened by their cancer experience reported more concerns about parenthood.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Linda G. McWhorter, Jennifer Christofferson, Trent Neely, Aimee K. Hildenbrand, Melissa A. Alderfer, Amy Randall, Anne E. Kazak, Erica Sood
Summary: The study explored the relationships between parental post-traumatic stress symptoms, overprotective parenting, and child emotional/behavioral problems in families of children with critical CHD. It found that overprotective parenting fully mediated the association between parental post-traumatic stress symptoms and child emotional/behavioral problems. Both parental post-traumatic stress symptoms and overprotective parenting were identified as modifiable risk factors for poor child outcomes.
CARDIOLOGY IN THE YOUNG
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Sonia Morales, Sedigheh Mirzaei Salehabadi, Deokumar Srivastava, Todd M. Gibson, Wendy M. Leisenring, Melissa A. Alderfer, E. Anne Lown, Lonnie K. Zeltzer, Gregory T. Armstrong, Kevin R. Krull, David Buchbinder
Summary: The study found that concerns about future health and cancer risk among siblings of childhood cancer survivors have decreased in recent decades, but there are still at-risk subgroups. Routine screening and monitoring of at-risk siblings of childhood cancer survivors may be beneficial for early intervention and support.
JOURNAL OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Natasha N. Frederick, Vicky Lehmann, Astrid Ahler, Kristen Carpenter, Brooke Cherven, James L. Klosky, Leena Nahata, Gwendolyn P. Quinn
Summary: Sexual health may be disrupted in adolescents and young adults during and after cancer treatment, but oncology providers often underestimate its relevance. This review aims to provide information on the etiology of psychosexual dysfunction, strategies for communication and evaluation of sexual health issues, and guidance for pediatric oncologists in addressing sexual health concerns.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Phoebe Brosnan, Kathryn A. Davis, Marcella Mazzenga, Anjali R. Oberoi, Christina M. Sharkey, David Buchbinder, Melissa A. Alderfer, Kristin A. Long
Summary: This study revealed that barriers to providing sibling services exist at multiple levels, and these barriers frequently interact with each other, maintaining a cycle where limited service provision leads to underutilization of services and underprioritization of siblings, ultimately resulting in siblings being off the radar and further limiting service provision for them. Addressing these barriers at the health care system and oncology center levels may be crucial in ensuring that siblings receive necessary psychosocial assessment and support.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Melissa A. Alderfer, Whitney Kvistad, Lauri Linder, Maija Reblin, Jia-Wen Guo, Kristin G. Cloyes
Summary: This study examined the social networks and sources of support for siblings of children with cancer. The findings revealed that mothers, fathers, close friends, and siblings (with or without cancer) were the most commonly reported sources of support. Friends and siblings provided validation and companionship, while parents offered instrumental and informational supports. This study provides foundational knowledge for improving support for siblings of children with cancer.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Paul T. Enlow, Thao-Ly T. Phan, Amanda M. Lewis, Aimee K. Hildenbrand, Erica Sood, Kimberly S. Canter, Gaby Vega, Melissa A. Alderfer, Anne E. Kazak
Summary: The study found that CEFIS is a psychometrically sound measure of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family and caregiver functioning, and may be useful in identifying families in need of psychological supports.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marij A. Hillen, Ellen M. A. Smets, Jacqueline M. Stouthard, Filip Y. F. de Vos, Vicky Lehmann
Summary: This study aims to assess the motives of cancer patients seeking a second opinion and its impact on trust in their original oncologist. The results show that 21% of patients seek a second opinion due to reduced trust. Patients criticized their original oncologists while consulting oncologists defended them, but such defense did not improve patients' trust. Trust in the original oncologist did not change substantially over time, but patients who sought a second opinion due to reduced trust regained trust, while patients with a different medical outcome had low trust.
PSYCHOLOGY & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Lisa A. Schwartz, Amanda M. Lewis, Melissa A. Alderfer, Gabriela Vega, Lamia P. Barakat, Sara King-Dowling, Alexandra M. Psihogios, Kimberly S. Canter, Lori Crosby, Kamyar Arasteh, Paul Enlow, Aimee K. Hildenbrand, Nancy Kassam-Adams, Ahna Pai, Thao-Ly Phan, Julia Price, Corinna L. Schultz, Erica Sood, Jordan Wood, Anne Kazak
Summary: This study aimed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents and young adults and developed the CEFIS-AYA scale specifically for this population. The results showed that the pandemic had a slightly negative impact on AYAs, with various factors contributing to their exposure and the resulting impact, and there were differences in scores based on gender and age.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Vicky Lehmann, Marij A. Hillen, Mathilde G. E. Verdam, Arwen H. Pieterse, Nanon H. M. Labrie, Agnetha D. Fruijtier, Tom H. Oreel, Ellen M. A. Smets, Leonie N. C. Visser
Summary: This study improved the measurement properties of the Video Engagement Scale (VES) and proposed a more effective 2-factor structure (VES-sf). The reliability of both subscales (Immersion, Emotional Impact) was found to be very high. Furthermore, multi-group CFAs demonstrated measurement invariance among different subgroups. The study concludes that VES-sf is a reliable tool for assessing engagement/ecological validity in video-vignette research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Amy C. Lang, Paulina S. Lim, Samantha A. Everhart, Nina G. Linneman, W. Hobart Davies, Melissa A. Alderfer
Summary: The objective of this project was to provide guidance for psychology researchers on ethical challenges in qualitative research aimed at improving pediatric clinical care. By conducting semistructured interviews with 6 pediatric psychologists, the researchers identified six broad areas of ethical considerations. The findings aligned with the APA Ethics Code and reflected the importance of competence, human relations, privacy and confidentiality, and research and publication. Recommendations were made to aid in study planning and emphasized the value of qualitative pediatric clinical care research.
CLINICAL PRACTICE IN PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Anne Kazak, Alejandra Perez Ramirez, Michele A. Scialla, Melissa A. Alderfer, Carrie Sewell-Roberts, Diane Treadwell-Deering
Summary: This study investigated the psychosocial risks faced by families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and adapted an existing assessment tool to provide a promising means of evaluating these risks. The tool, called PAT-ASD, was implemented in a pilot study and showed positive results, although further validation is needed.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Kathryn A. Davis, Phoebe Brosnan, Marcella Mazzenga, David Buchbinder, Melissa A. Alderfer, Christina M. Sharkey, Kristin A. Long
Summary: Although providing sibling psychosocial services is a standard of care in pediatric oncology, the current practices at pediatric cancer centers in the United States do not align with established care recommendations. Sibling-focused psychoeducation, screening, assessment, and support are variable between and within centers, and siblings themselves are often not involved in their own psychosocial care. There is a need for tools and strategies to improve the provision of sibling psychosocial care and to support siblings' psychosocial functioning.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Danielle R. Hatchimonji, Melissa A. Alderfer, Erin L. Riegel, Robert E. Akins
Summary: The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) programs aim to enhance research infrastructure in regions with limited access to NIH funding. The Mentored Research Development Award (MRDA) is a professional development program embedded in an IDeA-funded center, providing mentorship and support to junior investigators in writing grant applications. The evaluation of outcomes from the first eight years showed that a significant number of MRDA recipients went on to receive NIH funding, highlighting the efficacy of just-in-time grant-writing support in promoting early career clinician-scientists in IDeA state contexts.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Christina M. Amaro, Melissa A. Alderfer, Cynthia A. Gerhardt, Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Melanie Goldish, Kristin A. Long
Summary: This paper presents a transdisciplinary team science framework, using the Sibling Partnership for Advocacy, Research, and Care in Childhood Cancer (SPARCCC) as an example, to support siblings of youth with cancer. Through collaboration, the team successfully advanced advocacy, research, and support for siblings and generated novel solutions.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY NURSING
(2023)
