The present study aims to explore the experience of growth related to being a cancer patient, by implementing a thematic analysis. 69 cancer patients narrated their growth experience related to cancer disease. Collected narratives were analyzed running a deductive thematic analysis, starting from the five domains of the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Descriptive statistics and correlational analysis has been then performed. The five factors of the PTGI have been identified in narratives. The thematic analysis performed defined a further theme labeled by researchers “Time Dimension”, which saturated 37.7% of the whole sample. Researchers discussed the presence of four sub-themes related to ‘’time dimension’’ that described all coded narratives: “tracing a new temporal rhythm”, “the value of deserved time”, “facing the caducity of life” and “a view on the future”.This emergent theme does not correlate in our results with other domains of personal growth in cancer previously described in scientific literature and seems to emerged as an independent variable not significantly associated with other domains of Post-traumatic Growth. Results suggest the need to further investigate the role of time dimension in the practical and emotional experience of growth in cancer.
The time dimension in cancer patients' post-traumatic growth
Fioretti Chiara
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2022-01-01
Abstract
The present study aims to explore the experience of growth related to being a cancer patient, by implementing a thematic analysis. 69 cancer patients narrated their growth experience related to cancer disease. Collected narratives were analyzed running a deductive thematic analysis, starting from the five domains of the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Descriptive statistics and correlational analysis has been then performed. The five factors of the PTGI have been identified in narratives. The thematic analysis performed defined a further theme labeled by researchers “Time Dimension”, which saturated 37.7% of the whole sample. Researchers discussed the presence of four sub-themes related to ‘’time dimension’’ that described all coded narratives: “tracing a new temporal rhythm”, “the value of deserved time”, “facing the caducity of life” and “a view on the future”.This emergent theme does not correlate in our results with other domains of personal growth in cancer previously described in scientific literature and seems to emerged as an independent variable not significantly associated with other domains of Post-traumatic Growth. Results suggest the need to further investigate the role of time dimension in the practical and emotional experience of growth in cancer.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
