Introduction
In France, approximately 2,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) aged 15 to 24. Adolescence and young adulthood is a difficult period, characterised by many changes, and being diagnosed with cancer at this time is therefore a challenging experience to deal with. It can disrupt normal development, as it exposes AYAs to major changes with consequences for their physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and identity development (Patterson et al., 2015). Given the emotional burden of cancer, AYAs tend to rely on their parents for practical, emotional, and medical support (Molassiotis & Wang, 2022). However, research on parenting among AYAs is rare. The aim of our research is to describe parenting experiences in order to gain a better understanding of the complex needs and expectations of AYAs.
Methods:
A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with AYAs diagnosed with cancer (n = 29). Particular attention was paid to data saturation. A reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) was employed to explore the parenting experience of AYAs.
Results:
Two themes were identified: “consequences on my independence” and “parenting strategies” According to AYAs, parenting unfolds as a process that begins at the time of diagnosis and continues through to the end of treatment. AYAs adopt various strategies in relation to care: they may actively seek help or passively accept it, enabling them to receive support from their parents. They express a need for parental presence to help them cope with the challenges associated with cancer.
Conclusion
These analyses highlight the requests and expectations AYAs have of their parents regarding the care they require. Although parental presence and support are essential for AYAs, this can also impact their development, particularly in terms of their pursuit of independence and autonomy.