Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Survivors of pediatric brain tumors (BT) are at
increased risk for difficulties with social competence, including poor
social information processing (SIP) and peer relationships. Due to
improved survival rates among BT, there is a need to better understand
these challenges and if they are specific to BT versus other survivors
of childhood cancer. METHODS: 51 BT and 34 survivors of pediatric solid
tumors (ST) completed evaluations of SIP and peer relationship quality
within 6 months of completing treatment and at one year follow-up.
Caregivers also completed a measure of social skills. Linear mixed
models evaluated (1) differences between BT and ST on SIP and social
skills and (2) how indices of SIP were associated with peer
relationships over time for ST and BT. RESULTS: BT did not differ from
ST on indices of SIP or social skills over time. There was a three-way
interaction between measures of SIP, group, and time to predict peer
relationships. ST showed a positive association between baseline social
skills and theory of mind and peer relationships over time, whereas BT
showed an inverse association between baseline social skills and theory
of mind and peer relationships over time. CONCLUSION: Baseline SIP and
social skills affected the trajectory of BT peer relationships. BT
social functioning should be monitored regularly after the completion of
treatment to determine if and when intervention services would be
beneficial.