1. Objectifs

Intentions :
In this thesis [that contains two studies], the aim of the first study was to «develop a children’s spirituality measure». (p. 40) «The purpose of Study 2 was threefold: (a) to describe spirituality in childhood cancer survivors compared to a healthy comparison group, (b) to explore spirituality in relation to psychological health and coping in cancer survivors compared to a healthy comparison group, and (c) to determine whether parent-childcancer dyads had more highly correlated scores on measures of spirituality and psychological health than parent-childhealthy dyads.» (p. 44)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
La première étude est basée sur la participation de 368 enfants (7-11 ans) montréalais de différentes origines et confessions religieuses. En tout, 69 enfants montréalais du même âge ont participé à la deuxième étude.

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

In light of the results of Study 2, the author mentions many factors that influence the spirituality of the children, especially family. On this topic, she mentions that «parent-child dyads in the childhood cancer survivor group had more highly correlated scores than healthy parent-child dyads on Depression and Existential Well-Being subscales. With respect to the Depression subscale, it can be suggested that parents who have shared their children’s cancer experience through exchanges with their children may be more aware of their children’s depressive thoughts, or lack thereof. […] Children undergoing cancer treatments often interact with social workers, psychologists, and other professionals who encourage children to talk about their positive, as well as negative feelings. Thus, parents of childhood cancer survivors may have had many opportunities to discuss their children’s feelings throughout the cancer treatment process, possibly making these parent-child dyads more open to these conversations through the cancer survivorship experience compared to healthy parent-child dyads. Parent-child dyads of childhood cancer survivors also had more highly correlated scores on the Existential Well-Being subscale.» (p. 82)