Motor ability, physical self-concept and health-related quality of life in pediatric cancer survivors

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivorship is frequently associated with severe late effects. However, research into pediatric cancer survivors on late effects in motor ability, physical self-concept and their relationship to quality of life is limited.

Methods: Using multiple regression analyses, 78 pediatric cancer survivors and 56 typically developing children were compared in motor ability, physical self-concept and health-related quality of life. In addition, mediational multi-group analyses between motor ability (independent variable), physical self-concept (mediator) and quality of life (dependent variable) were calculated.

Results: Pediatric cancer survivors had a lower motor ability (g_Hedges = 0.863), a lower physical self-concept with regard to several scales of the PSDQ-S (g_Hedges = 0.318-0.764) and a higher relative risk for a below average quality of life than controls (RR = 1.44). Children with a history of cancer involving the central nervous system showed poorer motor ability compared to those without central nervous system involvement (g_Hedges = 0.591). Furthermore, the physical self-concept significantly mediated the relationship between motor ability and quality of life in pediatric cancer survivors but not in typically developing children.

Conclusions: Results show the importance of monitoring and supporting the development of motor ability in the aftercare of pediatric cancer survivors. Physical activity interventions may be advisable to prevent physical activity-related late effects and potentially improve related psychosocial variables such as quality of life.

Keywords: childhood cancer; motor functioning; motor performance; pediatric oncology; perceived motor competence; physical fitness; well-being.

FIGURE 1

Mediation analyses between motor ability (German Motor Test), the physical self‐concept (PSDQ‐S global physical) and quality of life (KIDSCREEN‐10) for pediatric cancer survivors (1A) and typically developing children (1B). Note. R² represents the proportion of the explained variance by the model; a, b, c’ refer to the respective paths of the mediation model; for each path standardized parameter estimates, significances and standardized confidence intervals (in square brackets) are indicated; path c’ represents the direct effect