title: Balancing grief and survival: Experiences of children with brain tumors and their parents.
abstract: Psychosocial research about childhood brain tumors is limited because of varied abilities and prognoses, with children's voices largely absent. Research has focused on the impacts on families and their reactions; this qualitative study used constructivist grounded theory methods to explore experiences of childhood brain tumors from the perspectives of 12 children and 12 parents using semistructured interviews. Their stories illustrated efforts to maintain positivity and normalcy as they faced grief and uncertainty. The substantive grounded theory of balancing grief and survival offers a lens through which to view children's and parents' complex experiences, struggles, and coping strategies as integrated, dynamic processes.
authors.affiliation: a Family Relations and Applied Nutrition Department , University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.|b Dr. Jay Children's Grief Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Ceilidh
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eaton Russell
authors.affiliation: c Neuro-Oncology Program , Haematology/Oncology Department , The Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouffet
authors.affiliation: a Family Relations and Applied Nutrition Department , University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beaton
authors.affiliation: a Family Relations and Applied Nutrition Department , University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lollis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: brain tumor; child; communication; family; grief; parent