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Posttraumatic growth in bereaved family members of patients with cancer: a qualitative analysis

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Abstract

Background

The death of a loved one has great impact on family members even when the death was expected. While negative changes are reported, some individuals also report personal growth, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Many studies on PTG have been performed using quantitative methods and suggest that PTG may differ according to the traumatic event and cultural background.

Purpose

This study aimed to explore how Japanese bereaved family members of patients with cancer express their experience of PTG after the patient’s death by analyzing open-ended answers provided in a cross-sectional survey.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected through a survey, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The present study was part of a larger cross-sectional survey of bereaved families of patients with cancer. Data analyzed in the current study were obtained from 162 bereaved family members of patients with cancer.

Results

We identified 18 sub-themes within five predefined major domains of PTG. Moreover, we also identified two additional themes: changed view of life and death, and awareness of health management.

Conclusions

The experience of PTG of bereaved family members varied considerably. Future research on PTG experiences among groups from diverse cultural backgrounds would be beneficial for understanding the concept and its clinical implications.

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Funding

This research was supported by the St. Luke’s Life Science Institute Grant and JSPS KAKENHI (grant number 15H05084).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Promotion Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan

    Kayo Hirooka

  2. Division of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Keio University, Kanagawa, Japan

    Hiroki Fukahori

  3. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Kanako Taku

  4. Nursing Department, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, University Hospital of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Sakiko Izawa

  5. Psycho-Oncology Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan

    Asao Ogawa

Authors
  1. Kayo Hirooka
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  2. Hiroki Fukahori
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  3. Kanako Taku
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  4. Sakiko Izawa
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  5. Asao Ogawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kayo Hirooka.

Ethics declarations

Primary data for this study is held with authors named on the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Review Board Ethics Approval. Data cannot be reviewed externally for ethical reasons.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Hirooka, K., Fukahori, H., Taku, K. et al. Posttraumatic growth in bereaved family members of patients with cancer: a qualitative analysis. Support Care Cancer 27, 1417–1424 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4440-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4440-6

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