Browsing by Author "Naidoo, Nikita"

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    Resiliency in families with a mother diagnosed with breast cancer
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Naidoo, Nikita; Greeff, A. P.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study aimed to identify resources, characteristics and factors that assisted families in the adjustment and adaptation to the chronic illness of breast cancer. Breast cancer is a growing global public health-care issue and one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide. A breast cancer diagnosis entails a demanding chronic illness for the ill individual, and is psychologically, emotionally and financially draining for family members, especially for those from a lower socioeconomic population. Given these challenges, a mother diagnosed with breast cancer is considered a family crisis. Nevertheless, some families are resilient in the face of adversity and are able to emerge strengthened and better equipped to overcoming the challenges an illness produces. This study and its findings add to knowledge and fill the large gap that exists in family resilience research and cancer literature. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation (McCubbin & McCubbin, 1996), combined with Walsh’s (2012) Family Resilience Framework, was used as theoretical foundation for this study to identify resilience resources associated with family adaptation. Both theories are situated within the realm of positive psychology (Antonovsky, 1996). Existing family resilience research after a breast cancer diagnosis is extremely scarce and a limited topic in the South African and worldwide context. A mixed-method convergent parallel research design was employed in this study. Non-probability convenience sampling was utilised to recruit 104 mothers, as representatives of their family, from the Breast Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. The qualitative component included 11 semi-structured interviews that were conducted with the participants at the Breast Clinic. The qualitative data was analysed according to Braun and Clarke’s (2013) thematic analysis method. It was implemented to identify themes and subthemes associated with family adaptation. The quantitative component encompassed the completion of seven self-report questionnaires. The quantitative data was analysed using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients and an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a best-subset regression analysis was done to determine the independent variables that best predict family adaptation. The combined qualitative and quantitative results give an in-depth understanding of the resilience factors and characteristics that assisted families to adjust and adapt following a breast cancer diagnosis. The results revealed the following family resilience characteristics: acceptance, hope and optimism, positive reframing, affirmative communication patterns, minimising reactivity towards stressor events, religion and faith in God, family time that promotes togetherness, couple time together, family hardiness, social support from friends and family, community support and religious support. Finally, the importance of managing the breast cancer illness through the effective management of the side effects of cancer treatments came to the fore. The above-mentioned findings can be utilised by medical professionals, psychologists and medical personnel in breast clinics for early interventions for families that face the crisis of a newly diagnosed mother. This study is exploratory in nature and recommendations for future inquiries are provided.