MENTAL AND FAMILY ADJUSTMENT TO CANCER AND THEIR LINK TO DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

It is well established that cancer can emotionally impact patients as well as their families. anxiety, distress, and depression are common emotions throughout this life-changing experience. The study aimed to investigate the mental adjustment to cancer on family adjustment and depressive symptoms among adolescents with cancer. The sample size was N = 135, adolescents aged between 11 to 14 years (M=12.65, SD=1.06). A correlational research design was used for this study, with the data being collected through non-probability purposive sampling technique. The data was gathered from Children's Hospital, Faisalabad. Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MACS) scale (Watson et al., 1988) (α=.79), Parenting and Family Adjustment scale (PAFAS) (Sanders et al., 2014) (α=.79-.87) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (Kroenke et al., 2001) (α=.89) were used for measuring constructs of this study among adolescents diagnosed with cancer. There was a significant positive relationship between family adjustment and depressive symptoms (r= .78**) among adolescents with cancer. Family adjustment does not have a mediating role between mental adjustment to cancer and depressive symptoms.