Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2025

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions
Published on: July 6, 2011
Perceptions of social support and relationships while living with a brain tumour: a qualitative study
Anna Zanotto1,2, Karen Goodall3, Marion Ellison1
1Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK.
Objective:
Having a brain tumour can disrupt social roles and networks. Despite growing evidence on the significance of social support in adjustment to chronic illness, research rarely focuses on the role of relationships when coping with a brain tumour. The current study sought to explore individuals' experiences of social support, and the dynamics within their social relationships, following a diagnosis of a brain tumour.
Methods:
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used as a methodological framework. Participants were 12 individuals (83% female) aged 29-54 years diagnosed with primary brain tumour (83% low grade), on average 3.5 years post-diagnosis. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using IPA.
Results:
Five themes were identified: Coping together in the family; Being concerned about others; Giving and receiving support; Needing to share the experience; and Negotiating independence. The results highlighted that the illness affected a whole network of closest relationships, and that coping was not an individual task.
Conclusion:
Coping with the condition was deeply socially embedded. There was a cost associated with seeking support and participants did not always ask for it, in order not to burden the caregivers. Talking to others with similar diagnoses provided a sense of validation and belonging.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V
The Tumor Microenvironment
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Social Anxiety Disorder
Cancer Survival Analysis
Treatment Resistant Cancers

