When mom has breast cancer: adolescent daughters' experiences of being parented.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the experiences of being parented when mothers are diagnosed and treated for breast cancer from the perspectives of adolescent daughters.


METHODS
Empirical phenomenologic.


METHODS
Participants were recruited from sites in Indiana and Arizona.


METHODS
Eight adolescent daughters whose mothers had been diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. Ages of the adolescent daughters at the time of diagnosis ranged from 10-15, with an average age of 13.5 years. Ages at the time of the interview ranged from 13-24 years.


METHODS
An open-ended, audiotaped interview was conducted with each daughter.


RESULTS
8 major themes were found: A World Turned Upside Down, Stop the Intrusion--Need to Get Away--Reluctant to Leave, Mom Can't Die, A Hole Where Mom Used to Be, Filling in the Hole Where Mom Used to Be, Being There for Mom--Managing Mom, Managing My Reactions--Being Selfish or Difficult, and Guarded Relief.


CONCLUSIONS
The daughters were struggling with changes going on in their lives. They found themselves in reversed roles with their mothers and felt conflicted between meeting their mothers' needs and their own. Daughters required help in communicating their needs to their mothers and others.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can assist adolescent daughters of mothers with breast cancer to find useful information, discuss effective ways of communicating, and facilitate the use of positive coping mechanisms.
Stiffler
Deborah
D
The School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. dstiffle@iupui
Barada
Brooke
B
Hosei
Barbara
B
Haase
Joan
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016487:Parenting; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D014342:Truth Disclosure