THE EXPERIENCE OF MOTHERHOOD DURING CANCER TREATMENT

  • Elisa Kern de Castro Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Unisinos http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1290-7561
  • Ana Luisa Kenne Dornel Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Unisinos
  • Miguel Alves de Sousa Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Unisinos
Keywords: Motherhood, cancer, psychological stress.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of motherhood of women with cancer with at least one child less than 10 years. From a qualitative exploratory design, interviews were conducted with ten mothers, audio-recorded and transcribed. The content analysis identified five thematic categories: 1) Being a mother is ... being afraid of death/cancer recurrence and leaving their child orphan; 2) Being a mother is ... changing the values/meaning of life after illness; 3) Being a mother is ... changing the family routine/child routine; 4) Being a mother is ... having conflict/defeat/ambivalent feelings; 5) Being a mother is ... having difficulties to attend their children. Two independent judges evaluated the mothers’ speeches. It was observed that cancer and motherhood experience overlap and intensify the suffering of these mothers. At the same time, both experiences place those women in a situation that led them to re-signify their lives and their priorities, which can enhance mother-child relationship in a positive way.

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Author Biographies

Elisa Kern de Castro, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Unisinos
Professora e atual coordenadora do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Unisinos, pesquisadora do CNPq
Ana Luisa Kenne Dornel, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Unisinos
psicóloga, mestre em Psicologia pela Unisinos
Miguel Alves de Sousa, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Unisinos
graduando em Psicologia pela Unisinos, bolsista de iniciação científica CNPq

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Published
2018-08-15
How to Cite
Castro, E. K. de, Kenne Dornel, A. L., & Alves de Sousa, M. (2018). THE EXPERIENCE OF MOTHERHOOD DURING CANCER TREATMENT. Psicologia Em Estudo, 23. https://doi.org/10.4025/psicolestud.v23i0.39559
Section
Artigos originais

 

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