Social cognition and adjustment in adult survivors of pediatric central nervous system tumors.

BACKGROUND

Survivors of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors are at risk for neurocognitive and social difficulties throughout childhood. This study characterized social cognition (perception and reasoning from social cues) and adjustment in adulthood.

METHODS

A total of 81 adult survivors of pediatric CNS tumors (51% female; mean [SD] age, 28.0 [5.8] years), were recruited across four groups: (1) no radiation therapy (RT) [n = 21], (2) infratentorial (IT) tumors + focal RT [n = 20], (3) IT tumors + craniospinal irradiation [n = 20], and (4) supratentorial tumors + focal RT [n = 20]. Prevalence of social cognitive and adjustment impairments was compared to test norms. Multivariable models examined clinical and neurocognitive predictors of social cognition and its impact on functional outcomes.

RESULTS

Survivors demonstrated elevated risk of severe social cognitive impairments (social perception Morbidity Ratio [95% CI] 5.70 [3.46-9.20]), but self-reported few social adjustment problems. Survivors of IT tumors treated with craniospinal irradiation performed nearly 1 SD worse than survivors treated without RT on multiple measures of social cognition (e.g., social perception: β = -0.89, p = .004). Impaired executive functioning and nonverbal reasoning were associated with worse social cognitive performance (e.g., social perception: β = -0.75, p < .001; β = -0.84, p < .001, respectively). Better social perception was associated with higher odds of attaining full-time employment (odds ratio, 1.52 [1.17-1.97]) and at least some college education (odds ratio, 1.39 [1.11-1.74]).

CONCLUSIONS

Adult survivors of CNS tumors are at elevated risk of severely impaired social cognition, but do not perceive social adjustment difficulties. Better understanding of potential mechanisms underlying social cognitive deficits may inform intervention targets to promote better functional outcomes for at-risk survivors.