Conceptualization of emotion regulation strategies in mothers with children with cancer

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Khaarazmi University, Karaj, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Mothers of children with cancer are more exposed to psychological and emotional problems and mental health threats in general than mothers of healthy children. This research was conducted with the aim of presenting a model of effective factors in the conceptualization of emotion regulation strategies in mothers with children with cancer.
Methods: This research was done with qualitative method and grounded theory method. Subjects were selected through the purposeful sampling method and continued until new information was obtained during the interview. Finally, 13 mothers with children with cancer were selected and analyzed through a semi-structured interview and using the constant comparison method of Strauss and Corbin.
Results: The results showed that ambivalent emotion regulation was the central category of mothers' emotion regulation pattern. Causal conditions were obtained for disease-based emotion and disease state. For the intervention conditions, pressure factors of treatment cost and external cooperation were extracted. Calming and positivity strategies were obtained as strategies of the qualitative model, and finally, the final results derived from the research were the transformation of the mother's attitude, the actions of other children, and the transformation of relationships.
Conclusion: It is suggested to use the results of this model to improve emotion regulation in mothers with children with cancer.

Keywords