Beacon in the storm: an exploration of the spirituality and faith of parents whose children have cancer.
The purpose of this article is to describe the role of spirituality as a coping mechanism in the lives of parents of children with cancer. This exploratory study was conducted using a dominant-less dominant research design with phenomenology as the guiding theoretical orientation. Twelve parents (eight women and four men) were interviewed. Spirituality was described as playing a key role in the coping repertoire of these parents. In particular, spirituality's influence was described in both a religious and secularized manner with both aspects having a positive influence on coping behaviors among these parents. Health care professionals and nurses in particular have a role to play in facilitating access to spiritual resources as well as acknowledging and accepting the spiritual practices of the families they serve.
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada. mschneider@wlu.ca
Margaret A
MA
Schneider
Roger C
RC
Mannell
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D009864:Ontario; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D011340:Problem Solving; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012107:Research Design; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires