Artikel: Parents’ perspectives of change within the family functioning after a pediatric cancer diagnosis (2018)
Door kleodubois op Do, 15/02/2018 - 15:45
Pediatric cancer is a life threatening disease that challenges the life of the diagnosed child, the parents and possible siblings. Moreover, it also places considerable demands on family life. The aim of the current study was to explore changes in the family functioning after a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
Ten couples that had a child with leukemia or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma were interviewed individually about their experiences. Interviews were semi-structured and the data were analyzed using Multi Family Member Interview Analysis. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) Family Cohesion: Strengthened vs. Fragmented; (2) Educational Norms and Values: Overindulgence vs. Being Stricter, and (3) Normality: Loss vs. Preservation.
The conflicting dynamics present in these emerging themes exemplify the complexity of this process of family adaptation. The current study illustrates the need to take into account the family level, as well as the conflicting feelings parents may experience after a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
