The Social Ecology of Adolescents’ Cancer Experience: A Narrative Review and Future Directions

Abstract

Smaller improvements in survival rates among adolescent patients with cancer relative to their pediatric and older adult counterparts are indicative of a need for greater research pertaining to their unique illness experience. Most recent studies focus on and implicate adolescent patients’ distinct cancer biology and unmet needs for specialized treatment as likely explanations, but adolescent patients differ in other ways as well, namely in their intra- and interpersonal contexts, or social ecology. Providing better treatment for adolescent cancer patients requires a better understanding of how their social ecology influences and is influenced by their illness. This narrative review provides evidence to support the need for adolescent-specific research focused on the interaction between adolescent patients’ cancer experience, their developmental life stage, and the primary relationships within their family unit and healthcare settings. A brief overview of the relevance of each social ecological context is provided, and important considerations for future research efforts and interventions are presented. Conclusions encourage researchers to include adolescent cancer patients’ social ecology in their investigations and clinical trials so as to offer this patient cohort the best care possible and eliminate their lag in survival rates.