Behavioral, social, and educational outcomes after pediatric stem cell transplantation and related factors

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the current study was to investigate longitudinally children's behavioral and social competence outcomes up to 2 years after pediatric stem cell transplantation (SCT) and related factors.

Methods: Ninety-nine mothers and 24 youths completed standardized questionnaires (Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL] and Youth Self-Report [YSR]) pre-SCT, and 12 and 24 months after SCT; 26 teachers completed Teacher Report Form (TRF) at 24 months. Information regarding clinical (eg, diagnosis, cranial radiation, graft vs host disease [GVHD]), child (eg, age, sex, physical health), and familial (eg, maternal age, education, distress) factors was also obtained.

Results: Linear mixed regression models with compound covariance structure followed by adjusted pairwise analyses yielded significant improvements from pre-SCT to 1 and 2 years after SCT in total scores; in externalizing and internalizing scores from pre-SCT to 2 years after SCT; and in total competence from pre-SCT to 1 year after SCT. Child's physical health, maternal age, and depression were found to be significantly associated with the total, internalizing, and externalizing CBCL scores, whereas GVHD, mother's age, and time since diagnosis were associated with CBCL competence scores. Diagnosis, cranial radiation, GVHD, child's physical health, and maternal age and education were associated with YSR total behavioral and competence scores. Finally, total TRF scores were associated with time since diagnosis; TRF educational and adaptability scores were associated with maternal education, age, and distress.

Conclusions: Clinical, personal, and familial factors must be considered to understand the psychosocial outcomes of these survivors up to 2 years after SCT. This study has important implications for psychosocial interventions for this population.