Writing toward well-being: A qualitative study of community-based workshops with breast cancer survivors

Toward New Understandings of a Good Life for People Experiencing Impairment: An Art- and Community-Based Research Protocol

“…The combination of art-based and community-based approaches is particularly well suited for the CGL study given that-as our previous studies have shown-participatory arts workshops can empower participants to generate data and create their own visuals (Ranger et al, 2019;Thomas & Hamilton, 2016;Thomas et al, 2017), thereby increasing the visibility of experiences of a good life while living with impairment. In addition to creating a meaningful experience for participants (Bell, 2010), visual products can promote accessible knowledge translation to a wide range of audiences in an informative, engaging, evocative, and esthetically powerful way (Leavy, 2009;Mitchell & Sommer, 2016;Weber, 2008).…”

“…In similar ways, the predominant problem-focused lens in social sciences research has resulted in limited engagement with positive life experiences, such as happiness (Thin, 2014). For example, women with cancer who participated in one of our team’s studies of creative writing did not report high levels of distress quantitatively despite living with cancer-related impairments (Thomas et al, 2017). Aspects of well-being, such as joy and flow, were experienced in the writing workshops (as they were in our pilot study), but participants reported there were few, if any, resources outside of the workshops that facilitated these aspects of well-being.…”

“…We include participants who self-identify as women because an emphasis on women’s experiences is reflected in our previous research programs. Additionally, previous research shows that women need the “permission” afforded by workshops to take the time to engage in creative practices, given their social roles (Thomas et al, 2017).…”

“…Our team's research program incorporating several interdisciplinary studies of creative practices in community settings as well as a successful pilot study exploring visual arts for women with cancer have led to the current Creating a Good Life (CGL) project (Hamilton et al, 2018;Ranger et al, 2019;Thomas & Hamilton, 2016;Thomas et al, 2017Thomas et al, , 2018Thomas et al, , 2019. While the pilot study generated themes relevant to understanding life with impairment, the study was not focused on a good life.…”

A caring science study about the understanding of life and creative writing

“…Edmonston (2006) says that doodling can be a spiritual practice and Wright (2009) describes another form of self-directed writing for well-beingto write to oneself in a non-judgmental compassionate voice. For cancer survivors, Thomas et al (2017) have found that creative writing in community-based workshops aids in focusing on oneself amidst everyday demands, thus facilitating self-care.…”