TY - JOUR
T1 - Technology-Mediated Support Among Siblings of Children with Cancer
AU - Wawrzynski, Sarah E.
AU - Alderfer, Melissa A.
AU - Waters, Austin R.
AU - Linder, Lauri
AU - Reblin, Maija
AU - Guo, Jia Wen
AU - Litchman, Michelle
AU - Cloyes, Kristin G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Purpose: A diagnosis of pediatric cancer can leave healthy siblings with limited access to support. Technology-mediated interpersonal interactions have been noted among adolescent and young adults with cancer and may be an effective source of support for adolescent siblings of children with cancer. In this study, we understand how adolescent siblings use technology to connect with their support network and how their technology use changes after their sibling’s cancer diagnosis. Methods: Participants included a national sample (N = 24) of adolescents aged 12–17 who had a sibling diagnosed with cancer in the last 2 years (up to 3 years if still receiving curative-focused treatment). Ecomaps were cocreated with participants to identify sources of social support and modality of interactions. Interviews were transcribed, coded, content analyzed, and descriptively summarized. Results: Adolescent siblings (mean = 14.2 years) perceived technology as a tool to maintain support from their established personal network, rather than a way to expand sources of social support. Most did not seek support or information about cancer outside their known network, preferring information to come from parents or trusted network members. Siblings identified video calls as an important resource for connecting with parents, their sick brother or sister, and others to receive emotional support and companionship. Conclusions: Findings suggest that adolescent siblings of children use technology to connect with their established network for support, an important finding for designing assessments and interventions for this population. Future inquiry should explore these differences, identify unmet needs, and inform acceptable, effective interventions to augment support.
AB - Purpose: A diagnosis of pediatric cancer can leave healthy siblings with limited access to support. Technology-mediated interpersonal interactions have been noted among adolescent and young adults with cancer and may be an effective source of support for adolescent siblings of children with cancer. In this study, we understand how adolescent siblings use technology to connect with their support network and how their technology use changes after their sibling’s cancer diagnosis. Methods: Participants included a national sample (N = 24) of adolescents aged 12–17 who had a sibling diagnosed with cancer in the last 2 years (up to 3 years if still receiving curative-focused treatment). Ecomaps were cocreated with participants to identify sources of social support and modality of interactions. Interviews were transcribed, coded, content analyzed, and descriptively summarized. Results: Adolescent siblings (mean = 14.2 years) perceived technology as a tool to maintain support from their established personal network, rather than a way to expand sources of social support. Most did not seek support or information about cancer outside their known network, preferring information to come from parents or trusted network members. Siblings identified video calls as an important resource for connecting with parents, their sick brother or sister, and others to receive emotional support and companionship. Conclusions: Findings suggest that adolescent siblings of children use technology to connect with their established network for support, an important finding for designing assessments and interventions for this population. Future inquiry should explore these differences, identify unmet needs, and inform acceptable, effective interventions to augment support.
KW - adolescent
KW - childhood cancer
KW - interpersonal relations
KW - siblings
KW - social networking
KW - social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175356595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85175356595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/jayao.2022.0151
DO - 10.1089/jayao.2022.0151
M3 - Article
C2 - 36787472
AN - SCOPUS:85175356595
SN - 2156-5333
VL - 12
SP - 685
EP - 691
JO - Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
JF - Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
IS - 5
ER -