Awakening the Spiritual Identity in Adolescents With Cancer: A Phenomenological Study.

Background: Awakening the spiritual identity in adolescents with cancer is a phenomenon that has not been fully explored. Nevertheless, empirical research shows that spirituality is associated with positive health outcomes for adolescents with cancer. This finding indicates that awakening the spiritual identity can serve as a coping mechanism in health contexts.

Objective: In this study, we (1) describe the essential structure of the process of awakening the spiritual identity as experienced and perceived by adolescents with cancer and (2) explore factors that facilitate or hinder the process.

Methods: We used a qualitative empirical phenomenological approach to explore the process of awakening the spiritual identity of adolescents with cancer. Ten adolescents completed a graphing-timeline activity and participated in semistructured interviews. We analyzed the data with an adapted version of Colaizzi's method.

Results: Regarding the process of awakening the spiritual identity, we identified 4 theme categories corresponding to 12 themes. The essential structure of the process is cyclical and ongoing: once a triggering moment initiates the awakening, adolescents navigate it through connectedness with the transcendent while drawing strength from preexisting spiritual foundations and family.

Conclusions: We reveal the essential structure of the process of awakening the spiritual identity among adolescents with cancer and highlight factors affecting the process.

Implications for practice: Expanding our understanding of the phenomenon of awakening the spiritual identity among adolescents may support nurses in addressing and fostering adolescents' use of spirituality as a coping mechanism during cancer treatment.