Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41678714›Full record

ArticleJournal of pediatric psychology2026

Psychosocial functioning and friendship quality among school-aged pediatric brain tumor survivors.

McCall Schruff, Tanya M Paes, Bethany Means, Niki Jurbergs, Haitao Pan, Zhongheng Cai, Matthew C Hocking, Heather M Conklin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pediatric psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

McCall SchruffDepartment of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
Tanya M PaesDepartment of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
Bethany MeansDepartment of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
Niki JurbergsDepartment of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
Haitao PanDepartment of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
Zhongheng CaiDepartment of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.
Matthew C HockingDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Heather M ConklinDepartment of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States.

Funding

Viral Vector Technology (VVTSR)P30CA021765 · NCI · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · PI Shondra Michelle Miller · 1985 to 2026
$166.9M
American Cancer Society MRSG-16-054-01-PCSMAmerican Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities ALSAC MRSG-16-054-01-PCSMAmerican Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities MRSG-16-054-01-PCSMNCI NIH HHSNCI NIH HHS P30 CA021765NCI NIH HHS P30 CA21765St Jude Cancer Center P30 CA21765
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivePediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) experience social difficulties, including fewer friendships. The presence or absence of a best friend may meaningfully reflect broader functioning. This study compared the psychosocial functioning of PBTS with and without best friends.

methodsPBTS (N = 65; 55.4% female; 84.2% White; Mage= 10.12 ± 1.32; range 8-12) completed measures of psychosocial functioning. Parents completed measures of parenting practices. PBTS were asked to identify a best friend and describe their friendship. Survivor-reported best friends were contacted and reported on dyadic friendship quality. Analyses compared survivors' functioning based on the presence of a best friend and evaluated friendship quality ratings between survivors and their best friend.

resultsTwelve PBTS (18%) could not identify a best friend. PBTS without a best friend were more years off-treatment (p =.029), engaged in less prosocial behaviors (p =.007, d = 0.86), and indicated worse peer relations (p =.025, d = 1.00). Parents of PBTS without a best friend reported lower parental warmth behaviors (p =.035, d = 0.98). Of PBTS with a best friend, 43.4% reported their friendship developed after diagnosis and 61% identified meeting in school. Friendship quality only differed for PBTS and their best friend for companionship and recreation (p =.010, d = -0.63).

conclusionsPBTS with a best friend have high-quality friendships and differ in psychosocial functioning from those without a best friend. Targeting facilitative parenting behaviors, school engagement, and friendship could improve PBTS functioning. Emphasizing friendship in research and clinical care may ensure PBTS have the psychosocial support and skills needed to develop these relationships.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsFriendsInterpersonal RelationsPsychosocial FunctioningSocial BehaviorAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleParentingPeer Groupfriendshippediatric brain tumorpsychosocial functioningsocial functioningsocial skills

Identifiers

PMID41678714
PMCPMC12912776

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.