College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Department of Social Welfare, Myongji University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ethn Health. 2021 Nov;26(8):1163-1179. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2019.1606164. Epub 2019 Apr 12.
Cancer experiences can bring positive as well as negative impacts. The current literature, however, focuses mainly on the negative impacts. This qualitative study examines Korean childhood cancer survivors' post-traumatic growth, which concerns how they respond positively to the cancer experience and how they change as a result of their experience. In-person or telephone interviews were conducted with 31 adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer post-treatment who were living in Korea. Thematic analysis found that childhood cancer survivors experienced growth by feeling gratitude (being content with the present, making comparisons with worse situations), engaging in self-affirmation ('I am strong'; 'My example can help others'; 'I am ready for new challenges'), deepening faith (communicating with God, trusting God's direction), and finding the social meaning of cancer (becoming a self-advocate, mapping out a career path). The study findings can be used by psychosocial care professionals to support Korean cancer survivors to recognize post-traumatic growth and, thus, achieve improved well-being.
癌症经历既可能带来积极影响，也可能带来消极影响。然而，目前的文献主要关注的是消极影响。本定性研究考察了韩国儿童癌症幸存者的创伤后成长，即他们如何对癌症经历做出积极反应，以及他们如何因经历而发生变化。研究对 31 名居住在韩国的儿童癌症治疗后青少年和年轻成人幸存者进行了面对面或电话访谈。主题分析发现，儿童癌症幸存者通过感恩（对现在感到满足，将自己的处境与更糟糕的情况进行比较）、自我肯定（“我很坚强”；“我的例子可以帮助别人”；“我已经准备好迎接新的挑战”）、深化信仰（与上帝交流，相信上帝的指引）和寻找癌症的社会意义（成为自我倡导者，规划职业道路）来体验成长。这些研究结果可被社会心理护理专业人员用于支持韩国癌症幸存者认识到创伤后成长，从而改善他们的幸福感。
