Psychosocial Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: An Integrative Review

Background: Adolescents and young adults with cancer sit in a precarious position facing an increasing cancer incidence while incidence in other age groups has been declining. A cancer diagnosis at this age imposes undue distress in a demographic with limited coping resources creating psychosocial needs that differ from children and older adults. Addressing psychosocial needs early in the cancer trajectory is postulated as an approach to address distress, improve quality of life, and promote optimal outcomes from therapy. The purpose of this review is to identify current successful approaches to psychosocial care in adolescents and young adults receiving therapy for cancer. Method: An integrative review of publications identified through six relevant databases was conducted. Thematic analysis was performed to identify types of interventions followed by assessment of publication level of evidence, quality, and a critique of the effectiveness of interventions. Findings: A total of 6,292 articles were identified and 17 met inclusion criteria for this review. Thematic analysis and critique identified six themes for intervention approaches with mixed outcomes: creative expression, promoting peer interactions, individual coaching, employing technology, promoting physical activity, and clinical interactions. Discussion: Adolescent and young adult psychosocial needs while receiving treatment are complex and best addressed with the involvement of an interdisciplinary team. Effective interventions include those that have been tailored to the patient and consider the individual’s developmental stage. Interventions that promote autonomy and decision making, provide privacy, are executed in individual sessions, and facilitate social/peer interactions have been more successful in improving psychosocial outcomes.