Beacon in the Storm: An Exploration of the Spirituality and Faith of Parents Whose Children Have Cancer

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the role of spirituality as a coping mechanism in the lives of parents of children with cancer. This exploratory study was conducted using a dominant—less dominant research design with phenomenology as the guiding theoretical orientation. Twelve parents (eight women and four men) were interviewed. Spirituality was described as playing a key role in the coping repertoire of these parents. In particular, spirituality's influence was described in both a religious and secularized manner with both aspects having a positive influence on coping behaviors among these parents. Health care professionals and nurses in particular have a role to play in facilitating access to spiritual resources as well as acknowledging and accepting the spiritual practices of the families they serve.

Notes

*Although Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is not a form of childhood cancer per se, it is a serious hematological condition that can be fatal and often requires treatments similar in nature and rigor to that of childhood cancers; therefore, this family was included in the present study.