On sinking and swimming: the dialectic of hope, hopelessness, and acceptance in terminal cancer. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • For terminally ill cancer patients, hope and hopelessness are constructs that significantly impact quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hope and hopelessness in advanced cancer and to identify factors that maintain hope and increase vulnerability to hopelessness. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 terminally ill cancer patients. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify patient definitions of these terms and associated cognitions and emotions. Hope and hopelessness were identified as distinct, often co-occurring, and dialectically interacting constructs. The relationship between hope and hopelessness often balanced on acceptance, perceived as diametrically opposed to hopelessness, and conducive to redirecting hope toward new goals. Positive interpersonal relationships enhanced hope, and uncontrolled physical pain increased vulnerability to hopelessness.

publication date

  • May 2, 2012

Research

keywords

  • Hope
  • Neoplasms

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4972334

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84874152728

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/1049909112445371

PubMed ID

  • 22556280

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 30

issue

  • 2