Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Ed. Specalist
Degree
*Ed.S.
Degree Name
Education Specialist (Ed.S.)
Degree Granting Department
Educational and Psychological Studies
Major Professor
Shannon Suldo, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kathy Bradley-Klug, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kahlila Lawrence, Ph.D.
Keywords
Intervention Acceptability, Life Satisfaction, Pediatric Cancer, Positive Psychology, Subjective Well-Being
Abstract
The psychological impact of pediatric cancer and cancer treatment is not well understood. Although there is evidence to suggest that pediatric cancer may negatively impact youth’s mental health and psychological functioning, other research suggests that the mental health of children with cancer is similar to that of healthy peers. Traditional psychological interventions have been used to reduce symptoms of psychopathology among children with cancer. However, less is known about the subjective well-being of children with cancer and evidence-based, positive psychology interventions to promote the subjective well-being of this population. Thus, this study sought to address this gap in the literature by assessing the subjective well-being of school-aged children with cancer, implementing an evidence-based positive psychology intervention, the Well-Being Promotion Program (WBPP; Suldo, 2016), and assessing participants’ perceptions of intervention acceptability following participation in the intervention. A total of three children ages 8 to 10 were available to participate in the intervention. Because of the small sample size and the heterogeneity in their health and academic experiences, students’ experiences were examined as case examples. Changes in students’ subjective well-being from pre- to post-intervention were inconclusive, with mixed findings across each student. Results of case study 1 revealed a small gain in global life satisfaction from baseline (M = 4.43) to post-intervention (M = 4.71) as well as stable levels of high positive affect (M = 4.25 to M = 4.08) and similar frequency of low to medium negative affect (M = 2.6 to M = 2.87) from baseline to post-intervention. Results of case study 2 revealed declines in global life satisfaction from baseline (M = 5.14) to post-intervention (M = 4.00) and a small increase in positive affect (M = 4.00 to M = 4.25) and decrease in negative affect (M = 2.93 to M = 2.00) from baseline to post-intervention. Results of case study 3 revealed a decline in global life satisfaction from baseline (M = 5.71) to post-intervention (M = 3.29) and a decrease in positive affect (M = 4.66 to M = 3.25) and a decrease in negative affect (M = 2.00 to M = 1.40) from baseline to post-intervention. In contrast to variability in change in subjective well-being over time, intervention acceptability was consistently high, with youth and caregiver reports of positive experiences with and responses to the program and its impact on the youth participants’ subjective well-being.
Scholar Commons Citation
Barnes, Jenna, "An Application of a Positive Psychology Intervention to Promote the Well-Being of Children with Cancer" (2025). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10846
