Effects of an Intervention on Social Competence of Children Surviving Brain Tumors

Abstract

Pediatric brain tumors often generate problems in social-emotional development. This study evaluated the effects of an intervention on the social competence of children surviving brain tumors through a multiple-case design. Two mother-child dyads received three home visits for the pre-intervention assessment and another three home visits two months after the intervention for the post-intervention assessment. The collection of evidence pre- and post-intervention involved the child’s clinical data and semistructured interviews with the mother and the child regarding social adjustment and social interaction components. The intervention lasted from seven to nine sessions, which mother and child attended separately. The data were subjected to logic model analysis. The results show an improvement in social competence in both cases, especially in the pattern of social interaction with peers. We discuss the implications of the sequels from the illness in terms of deficits in and promotion of social competence.