Emotional Regulation and Adjustment to Childhood Cancer: Role of the Biological, Psychological and Social Regulators on Pediatric Oncology Adjustment

Background: Children with cancer should deal with difficult situations such as undergoing multimodal treatment. Emotion Regulation Mechanisms (ERM) could be more effective for childhood cancer adaptation. The main purpose of this study was examination a number of the biological, psychological and social emotion regulators on adjustment to pediatric oncology.

Method: In this study, 98 children (39 girls and 59 boys) have participated that diagnosed as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) cases along with their mothers. The participants were between 8 to 12 years old. Salivary cortisol, cognitive emotion regulation, children's level of inhibition, maternal positivity and Beck Depression Inventory have been applied for evaluation of Emotion Regulation (ER) while Cancer-Specific Stress and Coping, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, anxiety-depression scales and vitality test have all used for assessing the Emotional Adjustment (EA).

Results: Using the canonical correlation has been showing significant relation between predictors of ER and EA. Cortisol level and mother's depression have played the most important role in above correlation.

Conclusion: Variation of cortisol level has identified by its various effects on the mother's behavioral system depression, cognitive strategies and emotional inhibition; would determine the rate of coping with cancer, resiliency and vitality.