Dancing with the elephant: Understanding young children's knowledge of a parental illness
Item
-
Title
-
Dancing with the elephant: Understanding young children's knowledge of a parental illness
-
Identifier
-
d_2009_2013:635caa37d85e:10129
-
identifier
-
10193
-
Creator
-
Oglio, Carolyn,
-
Contributor
-
David Bearison
-
Date
-
2009
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Developmental psychology
-
Abstract
-
A parental diagnosis of cancer is not a singular entity or static event. It is a complex activity engaged in by the entire family, not merely the afflicted. It is a dance whose steps are dictated by the choices made, both collectively and individually, in the continuous process of making sense of the disease. Yet, often, research conceptualizes the illness as a causative agent or explanatory principle, rather than a specific type of situated knowledge. This oversimplifies the ramifications of the illness across all family members, especially the children.;Within an ecological and family systems frame, the study used narrative theory and methodology to analyze non-narrative data generated by twenty-five (25) preadolescent children participating in the Knowledge Is Power (K.I.P.) program. The K.I.P. program is a two-session structured program for children aged seven to twelve whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. Group activities consisted of individual and co-constructed charts and group discussions focused on children's existing and desired knowledge. Coping strategies employed for the changes cancer brings to a family were also addressed. The program explored both the individual experiences of these children as well as their collective experience as they attempt to make sense of their parent's illness while coping daily with it.;The application of narrative analysis to this non-narrative data enabled greater access to the levels of meaning which may have been unknown to the children as they lived through the experience and revealed the inadequacy of the information being received from multiple sources. Results indicated a disparity between existing knowledge, which focused on medical statements and overt illness effects and desired knowledge, which reflected a gap in understanding the nature of these changes, their emotional impact and the future ramifications of the illness. Nuanced differences were also found between those considered active copers and those considered avoidant copers (Billings & Moos, 1981) as well as between the private and public story presented.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
2009_2013.csv
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
-
Program
-
Psychology
