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Existential Meaning-Making Coping in Iran: A Qualitative Study among Patients with Cancer

Author

Listed:
  • Fereshteh Ahmadi

    (Department of Social Work and Criminology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Mohammad Khodayarifard

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417466191, Iran)

  • Mohammad Rabbani

    (Department of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614411, Iran)

  • Saeid Zandi

    (Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran 1489684511, Iran)

  • Mona Sabzevari

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran)

Abstract

This article is written on the basis of a study on meaning-making coping in Iran. The study is a part of an international project in 10 countries with different religious and cultural backgrounds. This article aims to discuss the secular existential meaning-making coping methods employed by Iranian cancer patients. Interviews were conducted with 27 participants with various kinds of cancer. Nine secular existential meaning-making coping strategies emerged from the analyses of the qualitative interviews. These coping methods are as follows: Ignoring the illness , Distraction , Altruism , Encounter with others , Nature , Discourse of the self , Visualization , Positive solitude , and Positive thinking and transformational orientation . It seems that, using these strategies, our sample of Iranian cancer patients/survivors have been denying/ignoring their illness, and/or empowering themselves. We discuss the results, considering the potential influence of cultural elements, including Iranian Islam, Persian mysticism, and Persian literature, on the selection of the coping strategies. The study contributes to our understanding of coping via elucidating how seriously ill individuals in Iran try to manage the challenges caused by a health crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Fereshteh Ahmadi & Mohammad Khodayarifard & Mohammad Rabbani & Saeid Zandi & Mona Sabzevari, 2022. "Existential Meaning-Making Coping in Iran: A Qualitative Study among Patients with Cancer," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:2:p:80-:d:751313
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cristina Zucchermaglio & Francesca Alby, 2017. "Social Interactions and Cultural Repertoires as Resources for Coping With Breast Cancer," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(1), pages 21582440176, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jimmy Stephen Munobwa & Fereshteh Ahmadi & Saeid Zandi & Natalie Davidsson & Sharareh Akhavan, 2022. "Coping Methods and Satisfaction with Working from Home in Academic Settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Fereshteh Ahmadi & Saeid Zandi & Mohammad Khodayarifard & Önver A. Cetrez & Sharareh Akhavan, 2023. "Job Satisfaction and Overcoming the Challenges of Teleworking in Times of COVID-19: A Pilot Study Among Iranian University Community," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, May.

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