Psychosexual development, sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction in long‐term childhood cancer survivors: DCCSS‐LATER 2 sexuality substudy
Psycho-Oncology, vol. 32, pp. 1279–1288
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Childhood cancer may negatively impact childhood cancer survivors' (CCS) sexuality. However, this is an understudied research area. We aimed to describe the psychosexual development, sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction of CCS, and identify determinants for these outcomes. Secondarily, we compared the outcomes of a subsample of emerging adult CCS to the Dutch general population. METHODS: From the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study LATER cohort (diagnosed 1963-2001), 1912 CCS (18-71 years, 50.8% male) completed questions on sexuality, psychosocial development, body perception, mental and physical health. Multivariable linear regressions were used to identify determinants. Sexuality of CCS age 18-24 (N = 243) was compared to same-aged references using binomial tests and t-tests. RESULTS: One third of all CCS reported hindered sexuality due to childhood cancer, with insecure body the most often reported reason (44.8%). Older age at study, lower education, surviving central nervous system cancer, poorer mental health and negative body perception were identified as determinants for later sexual debut, worse sexual functioning and/or sexual satisfaction. CCS age 18-24 showed significantly less experience with kissing (p = 0.014), petting under clothes (p = 0.002), oral (p = 0.016) and anal sex (p = 0.032) when compared to references. No significant differences with references were found for sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction, neither among female CCS nor male CCS age 18-24. CONCLUSIONS: Emerging adult CCS reported less experience with psychosexual development, but similar sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction compared to references. We identified determinants for sexuality, which could be integrated in clinical interventions for CCS at risk for reduced sexuality.
Authors 17
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University of Lucerne · Princess Máxima Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Health Sciences and Medicine University of Lucerne Lucerne Switzerland
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Health Sciences and Medicine University of Lucerne Lucerne Switzerland
Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · Princess Máxima Center · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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University Medical Center Groningen · University of Groningen · Princess Máxima Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatric Oncology University of Groningen University Medical Center Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Department of Pediatric Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Radboud University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen The Netherlands
Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
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Erasmus MC · Princess Máxima Center · Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Erasmus MC · Princess Máxima Center · Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg · Princess Máxima Center
Affiliation as printed
Department of Health Services Research Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg Oldenburg Germany
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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Dorine Bresters Aachen
Leiden University Medical Center · Princess Máxima Center · Willem-Alexander Kinderziekenhuis
Affiliation as printed
Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Willem Alexander Children's Hospital Leiden The Netherlands
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
Willem Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Marloes Louwerens Aachen
Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands
Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Erasmus MC · Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam The Netherlands
Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
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Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · Amsterdam Reproduction Development
Affiliation as printed
Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Amsterdam The Netherlands
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Martha Alexandra Grootenhuis corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
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