Abstract
BACKGROUND-AIM: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among women. The acute crisis and uncertainty that follow diagnosis put the family at risk of exhaustion and dysfunction. Adolescents have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group of relatives. To investigate how to prevent distress in this group, we systematically reviewed research on adolescents’ (11-21 years) needs for information and psycho-social support during their mothers’ breast
cancer trajectory.
METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted in five bibliometric databases. Peer-reviewed, original research was included. Two researchers conducted screening, quality assessment, and data extraction independently. Thematic synthesis was applied to the included studies.
RESULTS: A total of 7,291 studies were screened, and five quantitative and five qualitative studies were included. The themes conducted in the thematic synthesis of the qualitative studies were: 1) Psychosocial support to address feelings, 2) The role of the family surrounding the adolescent, and 3) Appreciation of open sources of information. Adolescents’ needs for information and psycho-social support were poorly met. Many were reluctant to share feelings and experienced abandonment during the crisis. Adolescents not informed experienced distress. Poor family functioning increased adolescents’ distress.
CONCLUSIONS: Encounter groups may support adolescents during their mother’s breast cancer trajectory. Supporting parents to inform and support family members will indirectly support adolescents. Adolescents from families with poor functioning need extra attention.
cancer trajectory.
METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted in five bibliometric databases. Peer-reviewed, original research was included. Two researchers conducted screening, quality assessment, and data extraction independently. Thematic synthesis was applied to the included studies.
RESULTS: A total of 7,291 studies were screened, and five quantitative and five qualitative studies were included. The themes conducted in the thematic synthesis of the qualitative studies were: 1) Psychosocial support to address feelings, 2) The role of the family surrounding the adolescent, and 3) Appreciation of open sources of information. Adolescents’ needs for information and psycho-social support were poorly met. Many were reluctant to share feelings and experienced abandonment during the crisis. Adolescents not informed experienced distress. Poor family functioning increased adolescents’ distress.
CONCLUSIONS: Encounter groups may support adolescents during their mother’s breast cancer trajectory. Supporting parents to inform and support family members will indirectly support adolescents. Adolescents from families with poor functioning need extra attention.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 37742 |
| Journal | Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | Suppl. 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 91-92 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2023 |
| Event | 24th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology - University of Milan, Milan, Italy Duration: 31. Aug 2023 → 3. Sept 2023 Conference number: 24 https://www.ipos2023.org/ |
Conference
| Conference | 24th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology |
|---|---|
| Number | 24 |
| Location | University of Milan |
| Country/Territory | Italy |
| City | Milan |
| Period | 31/08/2023 → 03/09/2023 |
| Internet address |