In psycho-oncology, research into the affective dynamics and regulation is still scarce. Consequently, the first aim of this study is to carry out a state of works on affective dynamics using experience sampling method in cancer patients through a narrative review of the literature. Then, its second objective is to enable researchers and psychologist to implement this method with cancer patients, by proposing recommendations.
Our narrative review (n = 6) highlights significant affective variations throughout the day in cancer patients, thus intra-individual relationships between affects and other variables such as fatigue. However, it is important to note that the studies reviewed present heterogeneous protocols, and that none of them targets affective dynamics and their relationships with regulatory processes. The second part of the results is based on the studies reviewed, and includes recommendation for conducting studies using experience sampling method.
Our narrative review highlights the value of developing studies based on experience sampling method from cancer patients. The use of this method, within the rigorous framework established, would make it possible to obtain valid indices of affective dynamics that would provide a better understanding of affective regulation to cope illness in ecological environment.
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer is a difficult and complex experience, which has major and ongoing consequences for the family and its functioning. In this context, the family need change its usual functioning to cope with the disease and its treatments. The aim of this study is to describe the interactions between the young patient and the family members – parents and siblings – in order to understand the impact of cancer on his/her family system and its functioning.
We conducted a qualitative study, with individual research interviews with AYAs, mothers, fathers and siblings. The interviews (AJA = 13; parents = 11; siblings = 2) were subjected to thematic analysis.
Ten major themes with sub-themes for AYAs, 10 major themes with sub-themes for parents and 6 major themes with sub-themes for siblings were identified. The results show that the patient AYA, transitioning from childhood to adulthood, can easily regress to childhood positions, becoming dependent on his family (parents and siblings), for daily care. Relatives also tend to promote this dependency by providing care for the young patient. The interactions, which develop in the family, tend to push him into a regressive functioning in order to maintain his psychological and physical survival.
The regressive functioning helps families to cope with cancer, and as a result the evolution of family bonds are postpone. More family-centered support is needed, focusing on the specific needs of AYAs, particularly in terms of individuation and autonomization.
Young adult carers are individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 who regularly provide support or assistance to a relative with an illness or disability, representing a specific and understudied population. Emotional support, frequently provided by these individuals, can be challenging due to the psychological and emotional investment it requires. Currently, emotional support is difficult to define and measure, as evidenced by the limited existing tools.
This study aims to explore the characteristics of emotional support provided by young adult carers.
Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with young adult caregivers, and a thematic analysis was performed.
The results show that emotional support manifests in multiple actions: suggesting activities, being present, offering emotional protection, assisting the relative in regulating their emotions, and being a privileged interlocutor for the relative. They also show that providing emotional support can have impacts on the well-being of these youth.
These findings offer a better understanding of the emotional support provided by young adult caregivers and emphasize the need to consider them for clinical settings. For research purposes, these results could also contribute to improving evaluation tools for caregiving activities by incorporating aspects of emotional support more precisely and comprehensively.
This study investigates behaviors related to maintaining or interrupting the bond between incarcerated fathers and their child(ren), based on their narratives. To shed light on this analysis, we employed the “ethogenic” theoretical framework, which aims to elucidate culturally shared norms and goals that guide behaviors. In this context, 13 incarcerated fathers were interviewed as part of a parenting support program regarding their relationship with their children since their incarceration. The collected narratives distinguish between the logics of actions favoring the maintenance of this bond (the desire to “preserve their identity as a father”, to continue “meeting their child's emotional needs”, and to “cope with the prison conditions”) versus the logics of actions leading to the interruption of this bond (the desire to “preserve their paternal image”, to “shield their child from the reality of the prison environment”, to “preserve family resources”, and to “focus on their adaptation process to this environment”). In general, this research has highlighted action dynamics that may impede bond maintenance, dynamics that can be addressed within the prison setting through parenting support initiatives. Numerous studies emphasize the positive effects of such initiatives, including inmate rehabilitation and recidivism prevention.
Interventions based on mindfulness propose to children to become aware of their thoughts, emotions and sensations from the perspective of observing and accepting their experience of the present moment. The aim of this interdisciplinary and collaborative research is to analyze a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) intended for children in vulnerable contexts and to study its practices and appropriation by both professionals and children.
The first step was to offer a three-day mindfulness training to professionals in a healthcare community center. They were then able to deliver a program called “the Dr Zen Workshops”. Six children participated in 6 weekly sessions. Observations using a logbook were collected. Then, semi-directive research interviews were conducted with the children and their parents, and also with the professionals, in order to record their experiences and to analyze the methods of appropriation of the content.
A thematic content analysis was completed and complemented by observations from the logbook. The results illustrate the practice of mindfulness and the modes of appropriation by children and professionals. The results show that, despite institutional and temporal limitations and the children's issues, the professionals took on the content successfully and the children got involved in the program.
In France, only a few mindfulness-based interventions have been implemented for children in vulnerable contexts. This research shows the feasibility and effectiveness of such interventions thanks to close collaboration with involved professionals. Thus, it encourages further research with this specific population.