Spiritual dimension of children and adolescents with cancer: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: To review scientific literature relating to the spiritual dimension of children and adolescents with cancer. Methods: We conducted an integrative literature review in the LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO and MEDLINE databases in the period between 1990 to 2011. Results: Twenty-one studies were analyzed and grouped into thematic categories: quality of life and elements of spirituality; alternative and complementary therapies: spirituality as a therapeutic resource; spirituality as a coping strategy and spirituality as an attribute of existential transformations. It was found that spirituality is present at different stages of the disease experience and that its forms of expression may vary, according to age and cognitive development. Conclusion: There is a scarcity of specific scales for this age range and a need for scientific production relating to the spiritual dimension of children and adolescents with cancer. Descriptors: Neoplasms; Children; Adolescents; SpiritualityKeywords: Neoplasms; Child; Adolescent; Spirituality reSumo Objetivo: Analisar a produção científica relativa à dimensão espiritual de crianças e adolescentes com câncer. Métodos Realizou-se uma revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases de dados LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO e MEDLINE no período entre 1990 a 2011. Resultados: Vinte e um estudos foram analisados e agrupados nas categorias temáticas: qualidade de vida e os elementos da espiritualidade; terapias alternativas e complementares: a espiritualidade como recurso terapêutico; a espiritualidade como estratégia de enfrentamento e a espiritualidade como atributo das transformações existenciais. Identificou-se que a espiritualidade está presente nas diversas fases da experiência da doença e que suas formas de expressão podem variar, de acordo com a idade e desenvolvimento cognitivo. Conclusão: Observou-se escassez de escalas específicas à faixa etária e necessidade de produção científica relativa à dimensão espiritual de crianças e adolescentes com câncer. Descritores: Neoplasias; Criança; Adolescente; Espiritualidade reSumen Objetivo: Analizar la producción científica relativa a la dimensión espiritual de niños y adolescentes con cáncer. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión integrativa de la literatura en las bases de datos LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO y MEDLINE en el período comprendido entre 1990 al 2011. Resultados: Fueron analizados veintiún estudios y agrupados en las categorías temáticas: calidad de vida y los elementos de la espiritualidad; terapias alternativas y complementarias: la espiritualidad como recurso terapéutico; la espiritualidad como estrategia de enfrentamiento y la espiritualidad como atributo de las transformaciones existenciales. Se identificó que la espiritualidad está presente en las diversas fases de la experiencia de la enfermedad y que sus formas de expresión pueden variar, de acuerdo con la edad y el desarrollo cognitivo. Conclusión: Se observó escasez de escalas específicas al grupo etáreo y necesidad de producción científica relativa a la dimensión espiritual ...

The Spiritual Journey of Infertile Couples: Discussing the Opportunity for Spiritual Care

“…Scholars' concerns towards spirituality are mainly associated with holistic understanding of the human being [84]. Studies have broadly addressed spirituality in settings of people living in different phases of the lifespan, such as childhood [85], adolescence [86] and adulthood [87,88], with a focus on specific situations of extreme vulnerability, such as chronic illness [73,85,87], intensive care and palliative care [88][89][90]. Extreme life events and death experiences are commonly found not only in nursing, but also in midwifery literature.…”

An Integrated Literature Review Revealing the Process of Awakening the Spiritual Self/Identity Among Adolescents With Cancer

“…Furthermore, adolescents who denied being religious still engaged in spiritual practices and expressed that their prayers to Allah/God are their source of strength and comfort 30,40. Adolescents' spirituality is present at all stages of illness but varies in forms and strength depending on the situation 25–27. For example, some adolescents described interconnectedness with Allah/God/Higher Power as their spirituality, but others expressed this as being religious 25,26,30.…”

“…The review of literature revealed the process of awakening the spiritual self/identity among adolescents with cancer as ongoing, continued, and complex, taking diverse forms along one's journey with cancer, and with direct and indirect associations with many factors. [25][26][27][28][29][30] We identified 6 ma-jor themes of the process of awakening of the spiritual self/identity among adolescents with cancer: (1) recounting rough spots of the cancer experience, (2) the spiritual self/identity, (3) nurturing the spiritual self/identity, (4) affirming values and beliefs, (5) abiding resilience and transcendence, and (6) portraying the cancer experience.…”

“…30,40 Adolescents' spirituality is present at all stages of illness but varies in forms and strength depending on the situation. [25][26][27] For example, some adolescents described interconnectedness with Allah/God/Higher Power as their spirituality, but others expressed this as being religious. 25,26,30 All forms of spirituality were described as a source of strength, support, and comfort.…”

Efeitos da associação entre espiritualidade, religiosidade e atividade física na saúde/saúde mental: revisão sistemática

“…Studies on spirituality, religiosity and health have grown in scientific literature, revealing that higher levels of spiritual and religious involvement are positively associated with indicators which contribute to physical and mental health (7,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) . However, the literature on the impact of the association between spirituality, religiosity and physical activity as a therapeutic resource in healthcare is scarce (16) and no review studies on this topic were identified, therefore justifying the development of the present study.…”