Coping in adolescents with cancer: a review of the literature.

The dual challenge of normal adolescent development combined with a diagnosis places high demands on the coping of adolescents with cancer (AWC). A review was conducted to synthesize and critique studies of coping in AWC. Findings from this review indicated inconsistent results for developmental and gender differences as well as associations of coping with distress. A number of limitations were associated with these studies, including the use of small samples, lack of consistency in the conceptualization of coping and instruments, and limited knowledge helpful to inform intervention research to improve effective coping in AWC. Future studies are needed to address these limitations.