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CHAPTER 5
DISCUSSION
This chapter summarizes and discusses the findings of this research study on the
psychosocial wellbeing of childhood cancer survivors. How the findings relate to
current research literature in the area of childhood cancer survivors and emotional
wellbeing is also examined. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed and
the chapter concludes with the implications for delivery of care for childhood cancer
survivors in New Zealand and suggestions for future research.
5.1 The Psychosocial Wellbeing of Childhood Cancer Survivors
Following diagnosis of a childhood cancer and the intensive treatment necessary
to effect a cure, one might expect childhood cancer survivors (CCS) as a group to not be
doing as well as their peers in terms of psychosocial wellbeing. The findings of this
study show that childhood cancer survivors are doing as well, and in some cases better,
than their peers.
Age at the time the young people were surveyed was a factor, with younger age
associated with poorer prosocial behaviour as measured by the SDQ, but conversely
also with greater emotional wellbeing i.e. happier as defined by the WHO-5 Wellbeing
Index. Age at time of diagnosis was also a factor, with those diagnosed at a younger age
reporting feeling happier with a trend to diagnosis at an older age being associated with
poorer wellbeing on the WHO-5. There were no associations with age or age at
diagnosis to wellbeing on any other measure.
Lower socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with greater conduct problems on the
SDQ scale, however there was no such association with depression, anxiety or any other
measure of psychosocial difficulty. This was in contrast to the findings of the national
survey, Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey (Oakley Browne,
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