Cognitive-Executive Processes and Social Adjustment in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

McDonald, Kaelyn Anjali

Cognitive-Executive Processes and Social Adjustment in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

dc.contributor.advisor	Schulte, Fiona
dc.contributor.author	McDonald, Kaelyn Anjali
dc.contributor.committeemember	Guilcher, Gregory
dc.contributor.committeemember	Yeates, Keith
dc.date	2024-05
dc.date.accessioned	2024-02-16T18:41:46Z
dc.date.available	2024-02-16T18:41:46Z
dc.date.issued	2024-02-14
dc.description.abstract	Background: Survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have historically faced serious neurological and social difficulties as a consequence of their treatment with cranial radiation therapy (CRT). However, such difficulties are poorly understood among survivors treated with modern chemotherapy-only protocols. This study aimed to investigate cognitive-executive functioning and social adjustment, as well as factors relating to these outcomes, in this new wave of survivors as compared to survivors of pediatric non-central nervous system (CNS) solid tumours and healthy children. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed survivors aged 8-17 and their caregivers at least two years after finishing treatment. Survivors of pediatric ALL (n=25) and non-CNS solid tumours (n=18) were recruited to the current study, and healthy children (n=33) were included from a previous study. Cognitive-executive outcome measures included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V) Working Memory Index (WMI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI), and social adjustment was measured through the Adaptive Behaviors Assessment System Third Edition (ABAS-3) Social Adaptive Domain. Group comparisons were made using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests, and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to explore potential predictors of these outcomes. Results: Survivors of pediatric ALL scored significantly worse than healthy children on the WMI (ANOVA post hoc p<.001) and a subscale of the Social Adaptive Domain (ANOVA post hoc p=.002). Survivors of pediatric non-CNS solid tumours scored significantly worse than healthy children on the WMI (ANOVA post hoc p=.028) and PSI (ANOVA post hoc p<.001). No significant differences were observed between the two survivor groups. WMI and PSI scores did not significantly predict Social Adaptive Domain scores. Conclusions: These findings highlight difficulties faced by both survivors of pediatric ALL and non-CNS solid tumours which have the potential to cause substantial, ongoing negative impacts on their lives. Future research should investigate the underlying causes of these difficulties in order to inform screening and intervention protocols aimed at improving these children’s quality of life.
dc.identifier.citation	McDonald, K. A. (2024). Cognitive-executive processes and social adjustment in survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/118183
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	Pediatrics
dc.subject	Psychosocial
dc.subject	Oncology
dc.subject	Cognition
dc.subject	Executive Processes
dc.subject	Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
dc.subject	Leukemia
dc.subject	Solid Tumours
dc.subject	Social Adjustment
dc.subject	Late Effects
dc.subject.classification	Neuroscience
dc.subject.classification	Mental Health
dc.subject.classification	Oncology
dc.subject.classification	Psychology--Cognitive
dc.subject.classification	Psychology--Social
dc.title	Cognitive-Executive Processes and Social Adjustment in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Medicine – Neuroscience
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.