Category 3.3: full support of family and friends
When interacting with society, support from peers and
parents can alleviate the impact of changes in physical
appearance. When facing other people’s discussion about
their physical change, protection from peers can assist them
in obtaining a sense of security. In addition, the unconditional
reassurance and support from parents enable children and
adolescents with cancer to obtain substantial emotional
support. Some studies (Larouche & Chin-Peuckert, 2006;
Williamson et al., 2010) also showed that emotional support is
very important to adolescents with cancer. When other
people discuss the issues concerning body image change, adolescents
with cancer rely on a peer shield to fight against the
damage done by others.The support of peers enables them to
obtain a sense of security. Friends’ spontaneous protective
and defensive actions help them deal with the negative emotional
response and embarrassment caused by physical
change.Williamson et al. (2010) reported that parents of adolescents
with cancer use various strategies to protect their
children from psychological hurt. They will prevent their
children from being unnecessarily cared for in social contexts,
improve and maintain peer relationships, and try to
reduce adolescents’ sensitivity to change in their physical
appearance.