Activism as a coping strategy among parents of children with cancer

<p>Childhood cancer is a lifelong, whole-family diagnosis. The coping strategies employed by parents of children with cancer have implications for the family system both during and after their diagnosed child’s treatment. The current study found that activism, or actions taken on behalf of the greater childhood cancer community by individual parents, is an activity that parents (<em>N</em> = 67) universally engaged in after their child was diagnosed with cancer. Consistent with study hypotheses, activism was positively associated with aspects of well-being such as hope and resilience, and it was also positively associated with an active coping style. Activism was not associated with depression in this sample. Notably, participants qualitatively reported acute stressors related to activism alongside rich benefits. The current study contributes significantly to understanding the role of childhood-cancer-related activism as a coping strategy for parents whose children have been diagnosed with the disease.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Neenan, Alexandra

Contributors dc:contributor

• Michelle Byrd, Ph.D.
• Flora Hoodin, Ph.D.
• Angela D. Staples, Ph.D.

• caregiver coping
• childhood cancer
• coping
• pediatric psychology
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1061

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2447