An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychosexual identity development in adolescent and young adult survivors of testicular cancer

Journal article

Aldiwan, A., McParland, J., Leeuwerik, Tamara, Stoneham, Sara, Williamson, Max and Christie, D. 2024. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychosexual identity development in adolescent and young adult survivors of testicular cancer. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 29 (4), pp. 1432-1447. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045241259920
AuthorsAldiwan, A., McParland, J., Leeuwerik, Tamara, Stoneham, Sara, Williamson, Max and Christie, D.
AbstractBackground Qualitative research has explored how some testicular cancer survivors (TCS) experience the psychological impacts of diagnosis and treatment. More research into the impacts of testicular cancer (TC) on adolescent and young adults (AYA) is needed due to the critical period of identity development. The present study aimed to explore how AYA with TC appraise and make sense of their experience and to develop a greater understanding of psychosexual identity development in AYA TCS. Method Eight AYA TCS were interviewed. The results were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The questions explored the experiences relating to diagnosis and treatment, how it affected their psychosexual identity development (e.g., sexual relationships and self-image) and the meanings attached to the experiences. Analysis Four Group Experiential Themes were developed from the data; ‘Dealing with the shock’, ‘Fear and weight of responsibility’, ‘those closest to me’ and ‘sense of change’. Discussion The AYA TCS experiences may result in adoption of traditional masculine traits (e.g., stoicism) or abandonment of traditionally masculine traits (E.g. violence and aggression). AYA TCS also described feelings of insecurity when compared to other men. Psychology input could help manage stoicism and feelings of inferiority when compared to men with two testicles.
KeywordsAYA; Cancer; Identity; Testicular cancer; Psychosexual; Adolescent
Year2024
JournalClinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Journal citation29 (4), pp. 1432-1447
PublisherSAGE Publications
ISSN1359-1045
1461-7021
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045241259920
Official URLhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13591045241259920
Publication dates
Online12 Jun 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited04 Jul 2024
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Additional information

Publications router.

Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/98498/an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis-of-the-psychosexual-identity-development-in-adolescent-and-young-adult-survivors-of-testicular-cancer

Download files

Publisher's version
aldiwan-et-al-2024-an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis-of-the-psychosexual-identity-development-in-adolescent.pdf
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 31
    total views
  • 14
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

How do transgender young people experience talking about trauma with services?
Crockford, G., Hawthorne, O. and Leeuwerik, T. 2025. How do transgender young people experience talking about trauma with services? Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045251320673
An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of a nature-based therapy intervention for children with long-term health conditions and associated psychological difficulties
Bhatti, F., Leeuwerik, T., Savins, C. and Jackson, L. 2025. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of a nature-based therapy intervention for children with long-term health conditions and associated psychological difficulties. Journal of Health Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251315380
A thematic analysis of barriers and facilitators to participant engagement in group exposure and response prevention therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder
Leeuwerik, T., Caradonna, G., Cavanagh, K., Forrester, E., Jones, A.-M., Lea, L., Rosten, C. and Strauss, C. 2023. A thematic analysis of barriers and facilitators to participant engagement in group exposure and response prevention therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory Research and Practice. 96 (1), pp. 129-147. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12430
Exploring the experience of a strengths-based approach within a forensic service
Quinn, Jordan, Cook, Andy and Leeuwerik, Tamara 2022. Exploring the experience of a strengths-based approach within a forensic service. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. 23 (2), pp. 136-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2021.2016117
Patient adherence to cognitive behavioural therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Leeuwerik, T., Cavanagh, K. and Strauss, C. 2019. Patient adherence to cognitive behavioural therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 68, pp. 102-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.102135
The association of trait mindfulness and self‑compassion with obsessive‑compulsive disorder symptoms: results from a large survey with treatment‑seeking adults
Leeuwerik, T., Cavanagh, K. and Strauss, C. 2019. The association of trait mindfulness and self‑compassion with obsessive‑compulsive disorder symptoms: results from a large survey with treatment‑seeking adults. Cognitive Therapy and Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-019-10049-4
Mindfulness-based exposure and response prevention for obsessive compulsive disorder: findings from a pilot randomised controlled trial
Strauss, C., Lea, L., Hayward, M., Forrester, E., Leeuwerik, T., Jones, A. and Rosten, C. 2018. Mindfulness-based exposure and response prevention for obsessive compulsive disorder: findings from a pilot randomised controlled trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 57, pp. 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.04.007