Childhood Cancer Stereotype: Impact on Adult Perceptions of Children

Abstract

Explored the possibility that biased expectations might affect how adults respond to children diagnosed as in remission from cancer. The presence of a childhood cancer stereotype was investigated experimentally by assessing reactions of undergraduates and medical students to children described with either an in remission from leukemia label (RLL) or healthy label (HL). RLL children were rated as less sociable, less cognitively competent, less behaviorally active and well behaved, less physically potent, littler, and less likely to adjust well to the future than HL children. Undergraduates and medical students generally did not differ in their ratings of RLL and HL children. Medical students reported that they were more familiar with childhood cancer than undergraduates; however, familiarity was not related to ratings of the RLL or HL children. Implications for further research and health education practices are considered.