Mental health in young adult cancer survivors

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children and mainly affects children aged 2-4 years. The improved treatment outcomes over the past 40 years have increased the importance of developing knowledge, methods and resources to support childhood cancer survivors during their upbringing, transition to adulthood and establishment as independent individuals in society.

While research shows that the health-related quality of life of adult cancer survivors is affected, there is also support that psychosocial factors, such as the individual's ability to manage and live with the consequences of the disease and treatment as well as the support of the environment for the individual, have a protective effect. However, there is a lack of research that examines such connections and follows individuals with these experiences over a long period of time and in comparison with others who do not share their experiences and challenges.

The purpose of the study is to follow a cohort of young adult cancer survivors to study their health during the transition to adulthood. Of specific interest is to identify the factors that had a negative impact on their health outcomes and the factors that promote good health outcomes within the group and in comparison to parallel collected data from a control group consisting of their siblings

About the project

Project period:

2011–2023

Financiers:

Vetenskapsrådet
Forte
Barncancerfonden

Project leader:

Jens Nygren, professor i hälsoinnovation, Högskolan i Halmstad

Other participating researchers:

Collaboration partners:

Sahlgrenska akademin

Publications:

Health related quality of life in adults treated for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study. Aili K., Arvidsson S., Olsson M., Jarfelt M., Nygren J.M. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e048325.
Health related quality of life and buffering factors in adult survivors of acute pediatric lymphoblastic leukemia and their siblings. Aili K., Arvidsson S., Nygren JM. 2021. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 19:55
Support from healthcare services during transition to adulthood - young adult survivors’ experiences of pediatric cancer. Svedberg P, Einberg E, Wärnestål P, Stigmar J, Castor A, Enskär K, Nygren JM. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2016. 21:105-12.
'Through my eyes': health-promoting factors described by photographs taken by children with experience of cancer treatment. Einberg EL, Nygren JM, Svedberg P, Enskär K. Child Care Health Dev. 2016. 42(1):76-86.
Friendship relations from the perspective of children with experience of cancer treatment: a focus group study with a salutogenic approach. Einberg EL, Svedberg P, Enskär K, Nygren JM. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs. 2015. 32(3):153-64.
Psychometric evaluation of a Swedish version of Minneapolis-Manchester quality of life-youth form and adolescent form. Einberg EL, Kadrija I, Brunt D, Nygren JM, Svedberg P. 2013. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 11:79.