Abstract

PALACIOS-ESPINOSA, Ximena; GONZALEZ, María Isabel  and  ZANI, Bruna. Social Representations of Cancer and Chemotherapy in the Cancer Patient's Family. Av. Psicol. Latinoam. [online]. 2015, vol.33, n.3, pp.497-515. ISSN 1794-4724.  https://doi.org/10.12804/apl33.03.2015.09.

This qualitative study aimed to analyze the Social Representations (SR) of cancer and chemotherapy in 25 families of adult cancer patients with whom in-depth interviews were conducted and who participated in a free association test. We used Atlas.ti for the data analysis which were analyzed was done based on SR theory. It was found that the patient's family member plays a central role; they have various functions such as support and containment are as involved as the patient in the disease process. Thus, the family members represent cancer and chemotherapy in a predominantly negative way, favoring the presence of anxiety and suffering.

Keywords : Social representation theory; social representations; cancer; chemotherapy; family.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )