Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
Volume 28, Issue 6, 2010, Pages 699-717

"Sometimes you just have to walk alone" - Meanings of emotional support among Danish-born and migrant cancer patients (Article)

Kristiansen M.* , Tjørnhøj-Thomsen T. , Krasnik A.
  • a Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
  • b Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • c Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Abstract

The study explores differences and similarities in needs for and experiences with emotional support among Danish-born and migrant cancer patients. Qualitative narrative interviews with 18 adult cancer patients were conducted. Analysis was inspired by phenomenological methods. Migrant patients experienced more dispersed social networks compared to Danish-born patients. However, common difficulties in asking for and receiving emotional support were related to cancer being perceived as a fatal disease among the social network, and this lead to fear among patients that articulating needs for support would result in loss of normality and nonpatient identity. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

cancer Migration Social support Ethnicity psychosocial needs

Index Keywords

personal experience cancer patient Emotions emotional support Neoplasms human middle aged Denmark social network Aged social support Health Services Needs and Demand interview attitude to illness Humans male female clinical article Article emotion help seeking behavior adult migration patient attitude Loneliness Transients and Migrants Fear health care need
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78249235611&doi=10.1080%2f07347332.2010.516808&partnerID=40&md5=48d2de22ff4c6e27941a6d5773dd5914
DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2010.516808
ISSN: 07347332
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English