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How might cancer patients experience existential guilt? A qualitative research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2023

Moslem Arian Open the ORCID record for Moslem Arian [Opens in a new window] ,
Mohammad Saeed Khanjani Open the ORCID record for Mohammad Saeed Khanjani [Opens in a new window] ,
Martin Adams Open the ORCID record for Martin Adams [Opens in a new window] ,
Abbas Ebadi Open the ORCID record for Abbas Ebadi [Opens in a new window] ,
Seyyed Jalal Younesi Open the ORCID record for Seyyed Jalal Younesi [Opens in a new window] ,
Manoochehr Azkhosh Open the ORCID record for Manoochehr Azkhosh [Opens in a new window]  and
Samaneh Hosseinzadeh Open the ORCID record for Samaneh Hosseinzadeh [Opens in a new window]
Moslem Arian
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Saeed Khanjani*
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Martin Adams
Affiliation:
The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, London, UK
Abbas Ebadi
Affiliation:
Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nursing Faculty, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyyed Jalal Younesi
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Manoochehr Azkhosh
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Samaneh Hosseinzadeh
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Mohammad Saeed Khanjani; Email: sa.khanjani@uswr.ac.ir
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Abstract

Objectives

Existential guilt is a deep and multidimensional concept that is correlated with concepts, such as in/authenticity, existential anxiety, decisiveness, and personal and social responsibility. The aim of the present study is to investigate the experience of existential guilt among cancer patients.

Methods

The present research was conducted with a qualitative method with a content analysis design. A purposeful sampling method was used to select the participants and the sampling procedure went on until we reached data saturation. Data were obtained using semi-structured interviews with the participants.

Results

From a total of 18 interviews, 94 codes related to existential guilt were obtained. After the analysis, three main concepts were extracted: (1) incompleteness, (2) passivity, and (3) feelings of harm to self and others. Each of these had a number of subcategories.

Significance of results

The participants of the present research were found to experience existential guilt in different ways. The research showed that it is necessary to find the sources of existential guilt in order that effective therapeutic attention can be given cancer patients.

Keywords

Authenticityexistential distressexistential guiltCancerqualitative studypalliative care
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2024 , pp. 381 - 386
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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