Adolescent siblings of children with cancer: a qualitative study from a salutogenic health promotion perspective

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To explore the experiences of adolescents with a sibling suffering from cancer from a salutogenic health promotion perspective.

Methods

Seven female siblings aged 13–17 years were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to qualitative content analysis.

Results

The analysis findings adhered largely to one main theme: new challenges and needs in everyday life, consisting of the two domains cancer into life and helpful resources to cope. Categories related to the cancer into life domain were new routines and concerns, fear, loneliness, and growing up. Helpful resources to cope were categorized as support from others, understanding, faith and hope, and normal activities.

Conclusion

Prominent in the siblings’ descriptions were the challenging changes in everyday life including difficult feelings such as loneliness, and a need for understanding. Social support appeared as a crucial salutogenic coping resource to achieve understanding, faith and hope, and identity—crucial spheres to achieve meaning in life. This study has demonstrated the significance of salutogenesis in a new setting, and the findings could be of relevance to teachers and health professionals consulting with the siblings of children with cancer. Further research should be conducted to pinpoint concrete health-promoting measures that might benefit this group.

KEYWORDS:

• Childhood cancer
• health promotion
• salutogenesis
• sense of coherence
• siblings

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the young people who kindly shared their experiences. We also wish to thank the Norwegian Children’s Cancer Foundation, who contributed to recruitment.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Birgit Løkkeberg

Birgit Løkkeberg is a public health nurse and has a master’s degree in clinical nursing. She has a special interest in young children’s health and well-being.

Ragnhild Sollesnes

Ragnhild Sollesnes is a public health nurse and is an Associate Professor at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on children’s health and well-being from a health promotion perspective.

Jorun Hestvik

Jorun Hestvik is a cancer nurse. She has long experience from working with children with cancer and their families.

Eva Langeland

Eva Langeland is a mental health nurse and Professor of Health Science at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on health promotion, salutogenesis, and well-being in different settings and populations.