Relationships of Age and Gender to Hope and Spiritual Well-Being Among Adolescents With Cancer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine hope and spiritual well-being, with its 2 dimensions of religious well-being and existential well-being, as they relate to age and gender among adolescents with cancer. A cross-sectional design was guided by the conceptual framework, Adolescent Psychosocial Adaptation to the Cancer Experience. A total of 78 adolescents with a diagnosis of cancer were enrolled from 2 pediatric oncology clinics. Middle adolescents (15-17 years of age) reported higher religious well-being than late adolescents (18-20 years of age). Middle-adolescent boys were more hopeful than were early adolescent boys (13- 14 years of age). Also, girls were more hopeful and reported higher spiritual well-being than age the boys. Developmental phase and/or gender may influence adolescents' levels of hope, spiritual well-being, religious well-being, and existential well-being as they cope during the cancer experience. The nurse should consider developmental phase and gender when planning interventions to foster hope and spiritual well-being in adolescents' adaptations to the cancer experience.

The influence of spirituality in pediatric cancer management: a systematic review

“…[18] In times of stress, the spiritual realm may be a source of comfort and hope. [15] Hope has been described as a protective factor for enhancing resilience and quality of life in pediatric cancer [23,19] realitybased that a positive future exists for themselves and others. [24,8] …”

“…[36,6] Also, Landolt MA, Vollrath M, Ribi K [37] found lower socioeconomic status to be associated with more use of religious coping strategies among school-age children and adolescents from 3 populations (accidents, newly diagnosed cancer, and diabetes). [37,19] Therefore, pediatric cancer experience may create significant challenges for health care professionals and the children's parents, supporting the need for increased awareness of the distinct issues in the palliative care of children with cancer and for early anticipatory guidance provided for families. [16] Spirituality helping family cope with the pediatric cancer experience Despite increasing survivorship, childhood cancer is nonetheless still a very traumatic phenomenon.…”

“…[15] Thus, nurses should consider developmental phase and gender when planning interventions to foster hope and spiritual well-being in adolescents' adaptations to the cancer experience. [19] Theymight use questions like "Some children while they are sick do things to feel close to God (or a higher power). Have you done anything like that?…”

Calidad de vida en adolescentes: Análisis desde las fortalezas personales y las emociones negativas

“…En cuanto a la espiritualidad en los jóvenes, los estudios se han desarrollado especialmente con adolescentes que tienen alguna patología crónica encontrándose un efecto positivo en el bienestar psicológico (Hendricks-Ferguson, 2006) y en muestras de adolescentes sin patologías crónicas se ha hallado que la espiritualidad tiene una cualidad positiva, ayuda a hacer frente a situaciones difíciles y promueve la transformación del comportamiento cívico y conductas pro sociales (Roehlkepartain, Benson, Ebstyne-King y Wagener, 2005). La enfermera norteamericana Pamela G. Reed desarrolló la teoría de la autotrascendencia definién-dola como una capacidad evolutiva y un recurso potencial en el desarrollo madurativo de las personas de naturaleza no sólo espiritual sino psicosocial, donde la persona va "más allá de sus puntos de vista inmediatos y restringidos sobre sí mismos y el mundo", para conseguir la sensación continua de plenitud (Coward, 2007;Reed, 2003).…”

Cuidado espiritual: componente essencial da prática da enfermeira pediátrica na oncologia

“…It generally involves prolonged treatment, which demands care and entails the need for changes, which can lead children, adolescents and their relatives to a state of depression, isolation, despair, inferiority and inadequacy, with increased risk for psychiatric problems and spiritual suffering (1,2) . These changes drive the search for meaning, to the extent that people try to understand such a confusing and devastating experience, accompanied by a series of demands and responsibilities (3) .…”