Reflecting on Parental Terminal Illness and Death During Adolescence: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract: There has been little consideration of how adolescents experience parental terminal illness (PTI) and death and any continuing impact it may have on their lives. In particular, limited attention has been given to this group’s perceptions and experiences of support during this period. This study explores the retrospective experiences of six individuals who had a parent diagnosed with a terminal illness (TI) during late adolescence. Their experiences are qualitatively explored in terms of their understanding, processing and adjustment to their parent’s TI and death; both as an individual, and in the context of their wider family and social setting. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to analyse participant data. Participants were individuals who had a parent diagnosed with a terminal illness aged 16-18. Four superordinate themes emerged from the data. These were: changing family dynamics, grappling with adolescence and adjustment to loss, barriers to feeling/being s.... https://interpersona.psychopen.eu/index.php/interpersona/article/view/3565

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Reflecting on Parental Terminal Illness and Death During Adolescence: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ; volume:12 ; number:2 ; day:21 ; month:12 ; year:2018 ; Interpersona ; 12, Heft 2 (21.12.2018)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Jennifer Cafferky ; Samantha Banbury ; Catherine Athanasiadou-Lewis

Further information

• DOI: 10.5964/ijpr.v12i2.306
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2020101418355880064062
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:53 AM CEST