Background: Young adults are relatively understudied and often misrepresented in oncology research and practice, as they are often overlooked or clumped in with pediatric or older adult patients. There is a gap in literature for young adults with cancer and this study was done in an effort to help bridge that gap while exploring social participation along with peer support. Social participation is the interweaving of occupations to support desired engagement in community and family activities as well as those involving peers and friends (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). This will not only elicit a better understanding of the impact that cancer has on social participation, but also provide evidence for age-appropriate services to facilitate social participation for young adults with cancer.
Method: Four young adults were interviewed about their experience with cancer and social participation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach, which included coding and collapsing codes into themes.
Results: Study findings suggest a significant need for social participation opportunities for young adults with cancer.
Discussion: Occupational therapists can provide unique ways to overcome barriers to social participation within the community, and with family, and friends for young adults with cancer.
","abstract_html":"<p>Background: Young adults are relatively understudied and often misrepresented in oncology research and practice, as they are often overlooked or clumped in with pediatric or older adult patients. There is a gap in literature for young adults with cancer and this study was done in an effort to help bridge that gap while exploring social participation along with peer support. Social participation is the interweaving of occupations to support desired engagement in community and family activities as well as those involving peers and friends (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). This will not only elicit a better understanding of the impact that cancer has on social participation, but also provide evidence for age-appropriate services to facilitate social participation for young adults with cancer. </p> <p>Method: Four young adults were interviewed about their experience with cancer and social participation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach, which included coding and collapsing codes into themes. </p> <p>Results: Study findings suggest a significant need for social participation opportunities for young adults with cancer. </p> <p>Discussion: Occupational therapists can provide unique ways to overcome barriers to social participation within the community, and with family, and friends for young adults with cancer. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hodgson, Susan Blake"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:47Z","subjects":["Cancer","Social Participation","Young Adults","Occupational Therapy","Social Psychology and Interaction"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2017 Susan Blake Hodgson"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/533","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hodgson, Susan Blake"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Cancer","Social Participation","Young Adults","Occupational Therapy","Social Psychology and Interaction"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2017 Susan Blake Hodgson"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/533"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: Young adults are relatively understudied and often misrepresented in oncology research and practice, as they are often overlooked or clumped in with pediatric or older adult patients. There is a gap in literature for young adults with cancer and this study was done in an effort to help bridge that gap while exploring social participation along with peer support. Social participation is the interweaving of occupations to support desired engagement in community and family activities as well as those involving peers and friends (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). This will not only elicit a better understanding of the impact that cancer has on social participation, but also provide evidence for age-appropriate services to facilitate social participation for young adults with cancer.
Method: Four young adults were interviewed about their experience with cancer and social participation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach, which included coding and collapsing codes into themes.
Results: Study findings suggest a significant need for social participation opportunities for young adults with cancer.
Discussion: Occupational therapists can provide unique ways to overcome barriers to social participation within the community, and with family, and friends for young adults with cancer.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/PDF"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["No One Fights Alone: Exploring Social Participation of Young Adults with Cancer"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Hodgson, Susan Blake"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: Young adults are relatively understudied and often misrepresented in oncology research and practice, as they are often overlooked or clumped in with pediatric or older adult patients. There is a gap in literature for young adults with cancer and this study was done in an effort to help bridge that gap while exploring social participation along with peer support. Social participation is the interweaving of occupations to support desired engagement in community and family activities as well as those involving peers and friends (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). This will not only elicit a better understanding of the impact that cancer has on social participation, but also provide evidence for age-appropriate services to facilitate social participation for young adults with cancer.
Method: Four young adults were interviewed about their experience with cancer and social participation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach, which included coding and collapsing codes into themes.
Results: Study findings suggest a significant need for social participation opportunities for young adults with cancer.
Discussion: Occupational therapists can provide unique ways to overcome barriers to social participation within the community, and with family, and friends for young adults with cancer.
"],"dc:format":["application/PDF"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/533"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2017 Susan Blake Hodgson"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Cancer","Social Participation","Young Adults","Occupational Therapy","Social Psychology and Interaction"],"dc:title":["No One Fights Alone: Exploring Social Participation of Young Adults with Cancer"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:47Z"}