Spiritual growth aspects among caregivers of children with cancer

• Main Authors: Saari, Che Zarrina, Wahed, Norwahizatul, Muhsin, Sharifah Basirah Syed, Abidin, Mohd Syukri Zainal, Siti Sarah, Ahmad, Rahman, S.M.H.S.A., Musa, S., Ab Rahman, S.Z., Sabki, Z.A., Chik, Hasimah
• Format: Article
• Published: Department of Aqidah and Islamic Thought, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya 2022
• Subjects: B Philosophy (General); RJ Pediatrics
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/43785/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85133820114&doi=10.22452%2fafkar.vol24no1.9&partnerID=40&md5=afb484484acaa1d4cb63492dede023ed
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Spirituality is one of the essential aspects of one’s life. It offers a broader perspective towards a meaningful life while undergoing trials such as caring for children with cancers. Cancer caregivers commonly experience physical, emotional, social, and spiritual challenges. Spiritual issues such as lost hope and associating negative meanings with cancer prognosis may reduce the caregiver’s quality of life. However, this caregiving burden can be a great source of post-traumatic growth. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore spiritual change, a significant domain in post-traumatic growth among 24 caregivers of children with cancer at one of the teaching hospitals in Kuala Lumpur. Following in-depth interviews, the result of the thematic analysis demonstrated two themes; main religious and mindfulness practices, a significant caregiver’s spiritual development. The majority of caregivers reported increasing spiritual awareness levels, feeling closer to God, and focused on religious practices as ca