Correlates of Social Functioning among Survivors of Pediatric
Brain Tumor
Correlations among predictors (demographic/clinical and cognitive) and
social outcomes yielded a number of significant relationships (see Table
5). Increased difficulties on the Peer Relations subscale was
significantly correlated with longer time since radiation (p< 0.05) and shunt placement (p < 0.01).
Increased social skill problems were significantly correlated with
larger tumor diameter (p < 0.05). Slower processing
speed, reduced executive functioning, and poorer verbal memory were all
significantly correlated with increased difficulties with peer
relations. Reduced social skills was significantly correlated with
slower processing speed alone.
Multiple linear regression models examined the independent and shared
contributions of predictors that were significant in univariate
correlations with outcomes (see Table 6). For peer relations, the
overall model was significant, F (6, 51) = 3.94, p< 0.01, with verbal memory approaching significance as a
unique predictor, t = -2.01, p = 0.05. For social skills,
the overall model was significant F (5, 51) = 2.40, p =
0.05, and maximum tumor diameter emerged as the only significant unique
predictor, t = -2.23, p < 0.05.