Using drawings to examine the interactions between parents with advanced lung cancer and their children/adolescents

BACKGROUND: Parental advanced lung cancer substantially affects parent-child relationships, particularly with children/adolescents. OBJECTIVE: This study examined interactions, communication patterns, and coping strategies between middle-aged parents with advanced lung cancer and their children/adolescents. METHODS: Purposive sampling recruited parents with advanced lung cancer and their children/adolescents. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and children's drawings using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: 19 parents and 17 children/adolescents participated. Four themes emerged: (1) parental experiences and effects on parental roles; (2) effects on parent-child relationships; (3) children/adolescent's adjustment to Parental Cancer: physical and psychological; and (4) reconstruction of parent-child interactions and relationships. Families exhibited communication difficulties and emotional distancing, with children desiring love, support, and security. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged parents with advanced lung cancer experience emotional connection difficulties. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Family-centred support is essential for strengthening communication, emotional bonding, and coping strategies.