Conceptual Understanding of Resilience in the Adolescent With Cancer: Part I

Abstract

During the past two decades, increased research attention has been directed toward understanding the adolescent who is confronted with challenges such as poverty or substance abuse. Accordingly, pediatric oncology nurse researchers and clinicians are increasingly becoming interested in understanding the experience of resilience in the adolescent with cancer. Research and clinical reports have shown that many adolescents with cancer are resilient even though they experience multiple stressors. That is, even in the face of adversity, they develop into well-adapted individuals. The purpose of this article is to develop a conceptual understanding of resilience in adolescents with cancer. Areas that are addressed include the following: (a) an historical overview of the major theoretical paradigms used to understand the pediatric cancer experience; (b) a summary of definitional issues related to the construct of resilience; and (c) a conceptual model of resilience. New insights are provided that may lead pediatric oncology nurse researchers and clinicians to examine resilience in the adolescent with cancer from a variety of perspectives.

Resilience Processes in Children with Leukemia: Developing a New Resilience Model

“…It consists of stressors, protective and vulnerability factors, processes, and outcomes (maladaptation or adaptation) [22,23] (Figure 2). Stressors are specific events or situations (such as losses, events requiring social adaptation, and physical injuries) inducing such patients' emotional responses [24].…”

Resilience in adolescents with cancer.

“…In order to put empirical findings to work usefully, adequate theoretical models were needed to organize them. A model for resilience of children, fortunately, was recently developed by Rutter (Woodgate 1999a) .…”

Stigma and resilience: Lived experiences of people with HIV in a northern community.

“…As stated, resilience is conceived as a dynamic process involving complex interplay of risk and protective factors (Woodgate, 1999). There are numerous conceptualizations of resilience from many different disciplines, all conveying their own nuances.…”

“…Resilience is a comprehensive process that involves understanding personality traits, external factor such as family, friends, support group as well as outcomes such as increased self-esteem or social competence (Woodgate, 1999). Recent research that looks at the resilience process suggests this process in adults involves five dimensions: (1) connectedness to social environment; (2) connectedness to family; (3) connectedness to the physical environment; (4) connectedness to a sense of inner wisdom internal characteristics; and (5) a personal psychology with a supportive mindset and a way of living that supports the individual's values (Windle, 2011;Woodgate, 1999;McAllister & McKinnon, 2009).…”

“…According to Woodgate, resilience may be viewed in a multitude of ways, in that it may be viewed as a trait, as an outcome or a process that is affected by protective and vulnerability factors (Woodgate, 1999). Resilience is a complex dynamic process that evolves over time.…”