Social Interactions between Children with Cancer or Sickle Cell Disease and Their Peers

Abstract

We evaluated the social reputation of children with cancer (nonprimary brain tumors) (n = 26) children with a primary malignancy involving the central nervous system (n = 15), and children with sickle cell disease (SCD) (n = 33) using a standardized measure of social reputation, the Revised Class Play (RCP). Each child's classroom teacher completed the RCP, an instrument designed to assess sociability-leadership, aggressive-disruptive, and sensitive-isolated interpersonal qualities. Matched-pairs analyses comparing the child with chronic illness to one peer in each class who was the same gender/race and the closest date of birth showed children with cancer were nominated more often for sociability-leadership roles and less often for aggressive-disruptive roles. Brain tumor survivors were nominated more often for sensitive-isolated roles. Children with SCD were not significantly different from peers. Findings suggest that the stressful life events associated with cancer or SCD did not have a significant negative impact on social adjustment for school-aged children with these diseases. The data demonstrate the critical need for appropriate controls when evaluating psychosocial morbidity and chronic illness. Better understanding of the processes of resilience for these children who are routinely exposed to heightened stress provides an opportunity to improve the competence of other high-risk youth.