Relationship of Self-esteem and Social Support to Depression in Child Cancer Survivors

Kwon, Hye Jin; Kim, Yoon Jung; Cha, Hye Gyeong

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate depression in child cancer survivors.
METHODS
The participants in this descriptive research were 103 adolescents who agreed to participate. All of the adolescents were diagnosed as completely cured but remained under follow-up observation as outpatients. A structured questionnaire including the depression scale developed by Shin et al. (1991), a self-esteem scale developed by Rosenberg (1965) and a social support scale developed by Kim & Park (1999), Lee (1997) were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS.
RESULTS
The mean scores were, for self-esteem, 36.01, for paternal support, 57.21, for maternal support, 59.98, for peer support, 22.19, for teachers support, 21.07 and for depression, 27.95. Scores for depression were significantly different according to academic achievement, satisfaction with appearances, diagnosis and prognosis. Depression was negatively correlated with self-esteem, paternal support, maternal support, peer support, and teachers support. Variables affecting depression were peer support and self-esteem, accounting for 47.0% of the variance.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that peer support and self-esteem, follow by maternal, paternal and teachers support, are important variables in the occurrence of depression in these adolescents. Further study is needed to develop strategies to increase this support and self-esteem.