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Abstract
This dissertation describes nocturnal sleep–wake patterns in adolescents undergoing chemotherapy and examines relationships among sleep, treatment‑related symptoms, and quality of life. Fifty‑one adolescents with cancer were assessed using both objective actigraphy and self‑report sleep measures, along with standardized symptom and quality‑of‑life instruments. Results revealed delayed bedtimes, fragmented sleep, and reduced sleep efficiency, with fatigue, nausea, and pain among the most common and distressing symptoms. Sleep measures were not significantly associated with symptoms or quality of life; however, greater symptom burden was linked to poorer quality of life. Findings suggest that sleep disruption in this population is characterized more by fragmentation than by reduced sleep duration and highlight the value of actigraphy for clinical assessment.