(268) Personal Adjustment of Young Adult Survivors of Leukemia/Lymphoma: Examining the Association with Cognition and Sex

Objective: Survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia/non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (ALL/NHL) are at risk of cognitive sequelae of treatment, as well as psychosocial distress. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe self-perceptions of personal adjustment in young adult survivors of pediatric ALL/NHL and (2) examine associations between personal adjustment, cognition, and sex.

Method: Thirty-five young adult (x ̅=19.4 years), primarily Latino, survivors of ALL/NHL underwent neuropsychological evaluation, which included assessment of self-reported personal adjustment (Behavior Assessment System for Children – Third Edition [BASC-3]), working memory, processing speed, and sustained attention.

Results: Personal adjustment was approximately 0.5 standard deviations below normative expectations (mean T=45.5), with over 28% of the sample endorsing concerns in this area (compared to 18% of the normative population). Self-reliance was the lowest personal adjustment subscale (mean T=42.2), with nearly half (49%) endorsing concerns (compared to 15-21% of the normative population). There were no significant correlations between cognitive measures and personal adjustment subscales. Females endorsed a higher number of elevated personal adjustment subscales compared to males, t(33)=1.99, p=.027, which parallels their poorer working memory performance, t(36)=-2.14; p=.02.

Conclusion: Young adult survivors of ALL/NHL are at greater risk of concerns regarding personal adjustment than peers, particularly lower self-reliance. While there does not appear to be a direct relationship between cognition and personal adjustment in this group, females reported more areas of concern and demonstrated worse working memory, confirming their particular vulnerability to long-term cognitive and psychosocial sequelae.