What Is Helpful to Adolescents Who Have a Parent Diagnosed with Cancer?

Abstract

This research sought to identify what has been helpful for young people who have a parent diagnosed with cancer. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with young people (N = 15, age: M = 15.9 years) who had a parent diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years. A phenomenological thematic data analysis distinguished three superordinate themes, identifying what helped adolescents cope with their parent's cancer diagnosis. These were parental behavior, specific coping strategies used by the young person, and community support. These results contribute to our knowledge of what can help young people whose parent has been diagnosed with cancer.

KEYWORDS:

• cancer
• offspring
• coping strategies
• family
• parent

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the young people who shared their experiences with us in the course of this research. The authors also acknowledge the assistance of Esther Davis in aspects of the research.

Notes

The last criterion to participate in the study was included to avoid dual relationships, as the researcher was employed by CanTeen in Western Australia in a position that offered psycho-social support to young people within the state.