Research Proposal on "How Does the Daughter Experience Her Mother's Breast Cancer?"

Research Proposal 10 pages (3405 words) Sources: 35 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Cancer is a serious health issue which threatens millions of Americans. Women in particular are heavily affected by breast cancer which crosses racial and age borders (American Cancer Society, 2006). Millions of women become victims of breast cancer annually. Such a traumatic experience as cancer can not only affect the patient, but also her family (Romer et al., 2002). These affects have been proven to hit daughters of breast cancer victims the hardest. Thus, the purpose of this study proves to be the further exploration of the affects breast cancer has on patient's adolescent daughters. It aims to do so using qualitative measures which allow for the every day experiences of such adolescents present the depth of cancer's affect of them. This information will then give further insight to the nature of psychological distress and anxieties experienced by some adolescent daughters of breast cancer patients; which can then help morph current programs and counseling methods into more effective care units, for both the breast cancer patient herself along with her entire family.

This literature review first explores the theoretical orientation for the study before examining previous research. Moustaka's (19994) transcendental phenomenological model will be used within a quantitative design. This will aim to bridge the gap of knowledge within much current research. The affect of breast cancer on the family, and especially the adolescent daughter is examined alongside with the importance of her role within the support and care of both the family as a whole and her mother who is afflicted with breast cancer. The literature discussed was surveyed using such search terms as "adolescent daughter" and "breast cancer" and were conducted through such publications as Sagebrush along with local library searches.

The phenomenological approach allows for analysis of the experience.

Moustaka's (1994) transcendental phenomenological model will be implemented in order to further understand the experience of the daughter through her mother's battle with breast cancer. It relies on the theories initially posited Edmund Husserl who in the early twentieth century began his theoretical transgressions into looking at the meaning of day-to-day experiences (Moustakas 1994). This model relies on the understanding of the experiences, the every day, "to knowledge as it appears to consciousness, the science of describing what one perceives, senses, and knows in one one's immediate awareness and experience," and is heavily influenced by the field of philosophy (Moustakas, 1994:26). In fact the phenomenology was first used as early as 1765 within the philosophical writings of Kant, and Husserl was also heavily influenced by the theories of the early philosophical genius Rene Descartes (Moustakas 1994). The method relies on the idea that phenomenon, initially "to show itself, to appear," in Greek, actually create the environment seen inside the individual consciousness (Moustakas 1994:26). It is this phenomenon which presents a clean and usable starting point for the investigation of scientific study, seen in this research as the onslaught of the breast cancer in the adolescent daughter's mother.

The transcendental phenomenological also requires an understanding of intentionality, in that we as humans know ourselves in relation to external factors, and the idea that the human mind can thus carry meaning in comparison to one another and other external events (Moustakas, 1994). It can be effective when studying the experiences of adolescent daughters in relation to later psychological stress and care taking. This model requires the researcher to keep completely unbiased while dealing with very personal information, "to be completely open, receptive, and naive in listing to and hearing research participants describe their experience of the phenomenon being investigated," (Moustakas, 1994:22). The investigator is therefore responsible for providing clear insights for future research along with avoiding making personal judgments or biases along the way. And so, interviews recorded must be examined objectively when assessing the initial data findings of this research. However, the nature of the interview itself does cater to the transcendental phenomenological model. All participant interviews will prove open ended ones, begin with "Tell me about the time when you first learned that your mother had breast cancer." The subsequent interview will then prove the recollection of the actual experience of the adolescent female who has been forced to cope with her mother having breast cancer. All participants will also be allowed to direct commentary and ask questions of the researchers during the process, as to ensure the utmost comfort level of the participant while discussing such an intimate topic. Studies have proposed the idea that while involved in such intimate topics, the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee becomes in important in the validity of the data (Bryman 1988). The better the relationship between the two, the more accurate the participant's answers will likely be. And so, interviews and conversations being open ended and causal present a relaxed atmosphere to heighten the friendly relations between the researcher and the participant. To further comfort the participate means to further dive into her unique experiences with such a dangerous condition as breast cancer and all the grief and anxiety which comes with it. All these elements of the study design cater to the theoretical framework presented within the transcendental phenomenological model as discussed and proposed by Moustakas, (1994). Such methods as used in this study prove consistent with Moustakas' model (1994) in that they compile the lived experiences of the adolescent daughter through both interviews and conversations. It also coincides with the model in that it also concentrates on the lived experience as a whole, rather than in parts as other methodologies suggest doing. It also focuses on relating the lived experiences to actual units of meaning which are the essence of the daughter's everyday experiences with a mother suffering from breast cancer. These units of analysis can then provide flexible and in-depth data which is not possible for more quantitative designs. The to better understand the importance of the daily experience of the adolescent daughter in order to improve care of breast cancer patients, the transcendental phenomenological model proves a beneficial approach (Moustakas, 1994). Phenomenology can give a clearer picture of how the everyday experiences can shape meaning (Van Manen, 1998). The model also provides systematic steps in analyzing personal data and also provides guidelines for understanding and assessing the every day experiences of participants (Percy & Kostere, 2006). And so, several other qualititative studies have used the approach designed by Moustakas (1994) for the theoretical foundation of their phenomenological studies (Bondas & Erikson, 2001; Kluge, 2002; Padilla, 2003; and Moerer-Urdahl & Creswell, 2004).

This framework for analysis uses the individual lived experiences to represent data. This study then uses a qualititative theoretical approach to further understanding the research question.

All family members are affected by the onslaught of cancer. Family members of cancer patients in some cases develop a tendency for chronic illness, (Romer et al., 2002). However, studies have posited the concept that children are especially affected, (Armistead, Klein, & Forehand, 1995). Out of the various ranges of children who are affected, adolescent girls seem to be the most vulnerable, (Romer et al., 2002).

Psychological stress can develop within the context of adolescent females as a result of their experience with breast cancer through their mother, (Wellisch, et al., 1991; Wellisch, et al., 1992; Wellisch & Lindberg, 2001). These can then manifest into symptoms such as anxiety and depression, correlated to their mother's case of breast cancer, (Compas et al., 1994). It has been posited by Compas et. al (1994) and Wellisch et al. (1991) that adolescent daughters are in many cases very close to their mothers. This then fosters the environment for the mother to share intimate details regarding both the psychological and physiological affects of cancer. In many cases, adolescent daughters then turn this information into a fear which creates an anxious environment, (Spira & Kenemore, 2004). Anxieties regarding a fear of reoccurrence and their own potential battle with cancer manifests into a tendency for anxiety. In fact studies have proven that adolescent daughters are in fact at risk for later contracting breast cancer through the process of heredity, (Cappelli et al., 2005). In many cases this anxiety creates the belief that the adolescent as an over-heightened risk of contracting cancer (Esplen et al., 2000). Other research has posited the tendency for adolescent daughters to foster issues of guilt, fear of abandonment, obsession over appearance, along with fear of the future (Haber et al., 1995). These symptoms are also coupled with exhibition of anger after financial support is limited, along with the slow decline of involvement in social activities (Haber et al., 1995). Apparently, daughters are adversely affected with their mother's battle with breast cancer.

And so, researchers have taken on the process of looking at the role of the daughter within the family dynamic of patients with breast cancer. In many cases, daughters have a special role with their mothers. Studies have shown that this relationship can then have affects on the care of patients with breast cancer (Romar et al., 2002). Romar et al. (2002) have even gone as far as… READ MORE

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