A Qualitative Study of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors' Perceptions of Family and Peer Support

Overview

Journal J Health Psychol

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Psychology

Date 2018 Apr 25

PMID 29687735

Citations 13

Authors

Glynnis A McDonnell

Elyse Shuk

Jennifer S Ford

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This qualitative study examined adolescent and young adult survivors' perceptions of support from family and peers. A total of 26 survivors, aged 16-24 years, who had been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 14 and 18, participated in semi-structured interviews. Three themes emerged for support: practical support, emotional support, and new sense of closeness. For lack of support, two themes emerged: absence during treatment and lack of understanding about appearance changes. These findings emphasize the perceived importance of family and peer support throughout adolescent and young adults' cancer trajectories and indicate a need for interventions to help adolescent and young adult develop and maintain support networks throughout treatment and survivorship.

Citing Articles

The Role of Friends in Supporting Young People With Cancer: A Scoping Review.

L Sampson R, McDonald F, O Mancini V, McEvoy P, L Finlay-Jones A Psychooncology. 2025; 34(2):e70107.

PMID: 39957007 PMC: 11830860. DOI: 10.1002/pon.70107.

Perceived vulnerability related to health in cancer post-treated adolescent in Iran: a content analysis.

Akbarbegloo M, Sanaeefar M, Karimi M, Hoseini M BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):1909.

PMID: 39014390 PMC: 11253466. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19404-x.

Improving symptom management for survivors of young adult cancer: rationale and study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Dorfman C, Shelby R, Stalls J, Thomas S, Arrato N, Herold B Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2024; 10(1):87.

PMID: 38851732 PMC: 11161971. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-024-01510-7.

'Only to reconcile with it'. The coping experience amongst middle-aged and older cancer survivors: A qualitative study.

He Y, Zhao W, Duan A, Xiao H, Zhou X, Zhuo Q Health Expect. 2024; 27(2):e14048.

PMID: 38606474 PMC: 11009723. DOI: 10.1111/hex.14048.

Peer support-based online education, burden of care and quality of life among family caregivers of patients with leukaemia: non-randomised clinical trial.

Keramatikerman M, Varaei S, Vaezi M, Sayadi L BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2024; 14(e3):e2827-e2835.

PMID: 38272654 PMC: 11671940. DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2023-004610.

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