Oncology Camp Participation and Psychosocial Health in Children Who Have Lived with Cancer—A Pilot Study

Abstract

Children with lived cancer experience encounter adversity, therefore experiences promoting psychosocial health are necessary. This pilot study determined the impact of recreational oncology camps (ROC) on resilience, hope, social support, and mental well-being in youth who have lived with cancer. Youth (6–18 years) with cancer experience enrolled in an 11-day session of ROC (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada) were invited to participate. Participants completed a survey [Children’s Hope Scale (CHS), Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-R), Social Provisions Scale (SPS-5), and Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS)] on the first (T1) and last day (T2) of camp, and 3 months post-camp (T3). Repeated-measures ANOVAs evaluated differences in survey scores among time points. Ten participants (14.1 ± 2.5 years) were included in the analysis. CHS scores at T3 were lower than T1 and T2 (F = 9.388, p = 0.008). CYRM-R, SPS-5, and SWEMWBS scores were high but did not differ between time points. Hope decreased 3 months post-camp, suggesting a need for continued psychosocial support. Overall, the ROC environment is associated with positive psychosocial health.

Keywords

• cancer
• camp
• psychosocial health
• resilience
• hope
• children