Sira Natalia, McNeil Sarah, Hegde Archana, Geistman Kayla, Schwartz Abby
Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Nurs. 2024 Jan-Feb;41(1):32-43. doi: 10.1177/27527530231190386. Epub 2023 Oct 19.
While medical advances are enabling more children with cancer to live into adulthood, a large majority of them suffer from the late effects of treatment and about 30% experience infertility. Infertility impacts both male and female survivors complicating typical development for emerging young adults (EYAs) who typically spend this developmental period actively constructing their identities related to family and gender roles, attaining professional skills, and establishing social views. As literature is limited on identity formation and coping with infertility in young survivors, this study aimed to understand the experiences of childhood cancer survivors who are faced with infertility as a late treatment effect while reconstructing their identity. : A qualitative descriptive approach was used to explore the experiences and effects of childhood cancer complications on the identity development of six emerging adults (ages 18-29). Guided by the theoretical framework of identity development data were collected using semistructured interviews. : Four distinct themes emerged after the data analyses: restricted exploration and uncertain future, challenges to intimacy and communication, restructuring identity through redefining roles, and coping through familial support. Findings indicate that developmental processes of identity formation are complicated by the challenges stemming from infertility and require specific efforts to reconstruct core identity and redefine desired parental roles. Experimentation and self-discovery may be restricted for EYA cancer survivors as they reevaluate their views on intimate relationships, communication, potential professional roles, and family composition. Practical recommendations for multidisciplinary team members to support this growing population are discussed.
虽然医学进步使更多患癌症的儿童能够活到成年，但他们中的绝大多数人都遭受治疗的后期影响，约30%的人出现不孕不育问题。不孕不育对男性和女性幸存者都有影响，这给正处于成长阶段的年轻人（EYAs）的正常发育带来了复杂性，这些年轻人通常在这个发育阶段积极构建与家庭和性别角色相关的身份认同，获得专业技能，并形成社会观念。由于关于年轻幸存者身份形成和应对不孕不育的文献有限，本研究旨在了解童年癌症幸存者在重建身份认同的同时面临不孕不育这一后期治疗影响的经历。：采用定性描述方法来探索童年癌症并发症对六名新兴成年人（年龄在18 - 29岁）身份发展的经历和影响。在身份发展理论框架的指导下，使用半结构化访谈收集数据。：数据分析后出现了四个不同的主题：探索受限与未来不确定、亲密关系和沟通面临的挑战、通过重新定义角色来重塑身份、以及通过家庭支持来应对。研究结果表明，身份形成的发展过程因不孕不育带来的挑战而变得复杂，需要做出特定努力来重建核心身份并重新定义期望的父母角色。对于正处于成长阶段的癌症幸存者来说，当他们重新评估对亲密关系、沟通、潜在职业角色和家庭构成的看法时，实验和自我发现可能会受到限制。文中还讨论了多学科团队成员为支持这一不断增长的群体可采取的实际建议。
