Project 467163

Pediatric brain tumor survivors often have social competence difficulties. For example, they are more likely to have no friends compared to other children. Their social difficulties also continue into adulthood, and it can affect their quality of survivorship. Even if we know that they experience such difficulties, we do not yet know what social interaction behaviours might be contributing to these problems. This study aims to fill this important knowledge gap by using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Tool (ADOS-2) to assess, for the first time, social behaviours of pediatric brain tumor survivors compared to healthy controls. We are also interested in looking at associations between specific social behaviours difficulties and their likelihood of having at least one friend. To accomplish these goals, we will recruit forty pediatric brain tumor survivors between the ages of 8 to 16 from the CHU Sainte-Justine pediatric brain tumor clinic. We will also recruit forty children from the community. All participants will complete the ADOS-2. Information on other aspects related to social competence will also be looked at (e.g., cognitive functioning and medical variables like treatment received). To determine if there are differences in social behaviours difficulties between pediatric brain tumor survivors and healthy children, we will compare the ADOS-2 scores. This project is important as it will help improve social skills interventions. By knowing what are the specific social behaviours that pediatric brain tumor survivors experience difficulties in, interventions can focus on supporting the development of these skills in particular. Reducing social competence difficulties will have an important impact on the quality of life of pediatric brain tumor survivors.