ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This study is a qualitative case study exploring the meaning and processual trajectory of siblings’ experiences during the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer. In-depth interviews were conducted with two adolescent siblings and one adult sibling, and within- and cross-case analyses identified four overarching categories: “departure from normalcy,” “loss of control and role reconstruction,” “reorganization of the family system centered on the child with cancer and experiences of double exclusion,” and “reconstructing life after illness.” Siblings experienced the cancer diagnosis as a turning point in their lives and, during treatment, sought and reconstructed feasible roles while experiencing profound powerlessness. Within a family system centered on the child with cancer, they experienced being deprioritized and struggled with ambivalent emotions. Even after treatment stabilization, the cancer experience continued to shape their life choices and attitudes. These findings demonstrate that siblings’ experiences are processual, unfolding and being reconstructed over time. The study underscores the importance of recognizing siblings as independent recipients of support and providing phase-specific interventions aligned with stages of their experiential trajectory.

키워드