Research Abstract
The basic question of our research program is this: how can we help children, adolescents, young adults, and the people who care for them live their best lives for as long as possible? More specifically, how can positive psychology and supportive care alleviate suffering and improve quality of life? Our work started with questions about resilience among children with cancer, and evolved to support adolescents and young adults, caregivers, and healthcare clinicians. An exemplary program developed within our team is the “Promoting Resilience in Stress Management” (PRISM) intervention. PRISM is a brief, skills-based coaching program that targets patient-endorsed resilience resources like stress management, goal-setting, cognitive reframing, and meaning making. In randomized clinical trials, PRISM improved recipient-reported resilience, hope, psychological distress, and quality of life. Current projects aim to expand the program with digital health, community-based participatory research, and collaborative models of care-delivery.



