Affective Experiences of the Parents of Children With Cancer: a Qualitative Study

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the affective experiences of the parents of children with cancer qualitatively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents, whose children were being treated for different types of childhood cancers. Three affect themes, which were (a) negative affect (sadness, anxiety guilt, and anger), (b) emotion suppression, and (c) positive affect were revealed as a result of the transcribed and qualitatively analyzed interviews. Theoretical explanations were provided for each theme. Negative affect was the most predominant theme, yet positive affect was also present among parents, and emotion suppression was an important part of the affective experiences. The findings offered a descriptive picture about the emotions of parents with respect to caregiving a child with cancer. It was suggested that normalization and ventilation of the emotions can help the parents cope better with childhood cancers.