Family-Related Factors Influencing Resilience of Korean Adolescents and Young Adults with Childhood Cancer: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose Resilience is considered an essential component of the successful recovery of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) from childhood cancer. Factors that affect resilience have been studied in various ways, but family-related factors in Korean AYAs with cancer have received insufficient attention. Families will likely play an important role in acquiring and maintaining resilience. This study aimed to identify family-related variables, such as parent-child communication, family strengths, and family support, that might influence the resilience of Korean AYAs with cancer. Methods This study recruited 141 Korean AYAs with cancer aged 11–26 years. Data were collected using online and offline questionnaires between June 2019 and January 2021. Family-related variables were examined as suggested by the Resilience in Illness Model. Data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression. Results Resilience was positively correlated with all variables. According to the hierarchical regression analysis, higher levels of family strengths (β = .202, p = .039) and stronger family support (β = .456, p < .001) were associated with higher levels of resilience, with an explanatory power of 40.3% (F = 19.533, p < .001) after controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics. Conclusion The findings support the contribution of family strengths and support to the resilience of Korean AYAs. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm family strengths and support as predictors while considering other relevant variables. Also, we suggest that family-centered programs include actively encourage family members’ participation in supporting AYAs by reflecting on family dynamics.