Internalized stigma among pediatric patients with osteosarcoma and retinoblastoma in Guatemala, Jordan, and Zimbabwe
Our results demonstrate that internalized stigma impacts pediatric cancer patients from the time of diagnosis, highlighting the relevance of the ABC model in understanding this complex phenomenon. Our findings suggest CBT-based interventions that target patient beliefs, address identified activating events, and enhance multilevel support could help mitigate internalized stigma in pediatric cancer patients. Additional research should explore the efficacy of such interventions, the transferability of our findings to children with other cancer diagnoses and to various geographies, as well as how internalized stigma evolves across the cancer continuum.
Authors
- Hadeel Halalsheh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4803-1976)
- Nickhill Hitesh Bhakta
- Tharwa Bilbeisi
- Sara M. Malone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-8733)
- Gia Ferrara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3435-8436)
- Inam Chitsike (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9837-8372)
- D. E. Graetz
- Anneliese H. Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5907-9989)
- Edith Matsikidze (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1731-6136)
- Nester Chokwenda
- Sima C. Jeha
- Joseph Wardell
- V. M. Santana
- Ana Cáceres-Serrano
- Lucia Fuentes
- Thelma Velasquez
- Jennifer W. Mack
Institutions
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (US)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- King Hussein Cancer Center (JO)
- Parirenyatwa Hospital (ZW)
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (US)
- National Oncologic Institute (PA)
- Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (CO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Oncology
- Published
- 2026-02-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2026.1689051
- Primary Topic
- Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities
- National Institutes of Health
- National Cancer Institute