Existential isolation and lack of authentic meetings: Adolescents’ experiences when mothers are diagnosed and treated for breast cancer

Background:
Adolescents living with mothers diagnosed with breast cancer are at risk of internalizing problems, such as anxiety and depression, worsened by maternal distress. Owing to their developmental stage, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable and their needs for information and support are poorly met. To support this group, this study aimed to identify adolescents' (aged 13–18) experiences and needs during their mothers' breast cancer trajectory.
Methods:
Using a hermeneutic existential–phenomenological approach, semistructured individual interviews were conducted with 11 adolescents 3 times each: 1) shortly after their mother was diagnosed, 2) midway through their mother's treatment course, and 3) 6 months after their mother finished her treatment. Based on the resumés and I-poems of the interviews with thematic analysis, 5 themes were consolidated, inspired by 4 existential life themes: death, freedom, existential isolation, and meaninglessness.
Findings:
Findings are structured around the following 6 themes: 1) involvement vs shock: most adolescents were not involved until after diagnosis but preferred to be fully informed during the entire trajectory; 2) death anxiety: participants were struck by the fear of losing their mother, expressing death or separation anxiety, reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) concealing fear: adolescents were urged to suppress the fear of losing their mother, which meant concealing rather than processing or regulating emotions; 4) escaping existential isolation: merging with their mother or making themselves vital was a way to avoid experiencing existential isolation; 5) finding meaning in suffering: adolescents presented a perception of having grown stronger but merely expressed suffering; and 6) authentic meetings: adolescents lack authentic meetings with friends and family.
Conclusions:
When their mothers are diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer, adolescents experience existential anxiety related to death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Adolescence is a potentially vulnerable developmental time, and supportive interventions are recommended.