Adaptation and defensiveness: A study of latency-age children with cancer

This study examined whether greater defensiveness in latency-age children with cancer is positively associated with higher levels of self-esteem and negatively associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. Four self-report questionnaires were used to interview forty-eight children recruited from a pediatric oncology camp and a pediatric oncology outpatient medical center clinic.; The results indicated that one out of three hypotheses were supported. The study sample reported higher levels of defensiveness, which was negatively associated with lower levels of anxiety. Results from both sites showed that the hospital children were somewhat more depressed, had lower self-esteem, and were significantly more defensive than the camp children. The majority of hospital children were being treated for their cancer diagnosis compared to the camp children and older children described significantly lower levels of depression.; The study sample's levels of defensiveness, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem were compared to a normative group of healthy children. They were significantly less depressed and more defensive than the normative sample.; The findings suggest that environment, age, medication status and higher levels of defensiveness play a role in the functioning of children with cancer.