Future Life Expectations and Self-Esteem of the Adolescent Survivor of Childhood Cancer

Abstract

The number of adolescent cancer survivors has increased dramatically over the past decade as the result of improved treatment and diagnostic techniques. This population brings with them unique characteristics and concerns. The present study consisted of interviews with 10 adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their parents. It investigated the adolescent's present self-esteem, the future life expectations held by both the teenagers and parents, and the relationship between the variables. Results indicated that the adolescents felt moderately competent in their lives (measures of self-esteem) and the parents felt more certain than their children that the teenagers would accomplish the tasks deemed appropriate for entry into a healthy adulthood. Pearson correlations showed a strong relationship between parents' future life expectations and adolescents' self-esteem (r = .82; P = .002), but not between parents' and adolescents' future life expectations or between the adolescents' future life expectations and self-esteem. The results are significant in addressing the impact parents can have on their child's self-esteem.