Posttraumatic Growth and Spirituality in Mothers of Children with Pediatric Cancer

Natalia Czyżowska, Magdalena Raszka, Alicja Kalus and Dorota Czyżowska
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Natalia Czyżowska: Institute of Psychology, Pedagogical University of Kraków, 30-084 Kraków, Poland
Magdalena Raszka: Independent Researcher, 44-200 Rybnik, Poland
Alicja Kalus: Institute of Psychology, Opole University, 45-052 Opole, Poland
Dorota Czyżowska: Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Kraków, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-9

Abstract: A child’s cancer, as a life-threatening illness, is classified as a traumatic event both for the child him-/herself and for his/her relatives. Struggling with a traumatic experience can bring positive consequences for an individual, which is referred to as posttraumatic growth. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between posttraumatic growth and spirituality understood as a personal resource in mothers of children with pediatric cancer. In total, 55 mothers whose children were in the phase of treatment and who had been staying with them in the hospital filled in a Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Self-description Questionnaire of Spirituality, and the author’s short questionnaire on demographic variables and information on the child and his/her disease. A high level of posttraumatic development, especially in the area of life appreciation, was observed in the examined mothers. Spirituality was positively related to the emergence of positive change, in two particular components, ethical sensitivity and harmony. It seems that taking into account the area of spirituality when planning interventions and providing support in this group could foster coping with the situation and emergence of posttraumatic growth.

Keywords: pediatric cancer; mothers; posttraumatic growth; spirituality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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