Abstract

STEFFEN, Bárbara Cristina  and  CASTOLDI, Luciana. Surviving the storm: the influence of the oncologic treatment of a child on the conjugal relation. Psicol. cienc. prof. [online]. 2006, vol.26, n.3, pp. 406-425. ISSN 1414-9893.

The diagnosis of infantile cancer modifies the family dynamic standard. It makes parents concentrate their attention on the sick child. For this reason, it is frequently realized that the conjugal relationship loses its space, which may increase the incidence of conflicts among the couple. This paper intends to investigate the influence of the parents' accompaniment of the oncologic treatment on the conjugal relation. It is a qualitative research in which three couples, whose children were in oncologic treatment at a pediatric hospital, were enrolled. Data collection was done using semi-directed interviews. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and submitted to content analysis. Results show the necessity of interventions in the hospital environment with the objective to minimize conflicts and to rescue the conjugal relation. This paper presents some possibilities of intervention.

Keywords : Infantile cancer; Conjugal relation; Hospitalization; Psychology intervention.

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