Research Team of Professors Yang Seung-kyung and Lee Eun-joo at Gyeongnam National University Wins Excellent Paper Award from the Korean Society of Qualitative Research

‘Post-Traumatic Growth Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors’
Elucidating the Psychological Growth Process of Survivors

The research team led by Professors Yang Seung-kyung and Lee Eun-joo from the Department of Nursing at Gyeongnam National University recently received the Excellent Paper Award at the ‘2024 Korean Qualitative Research Association Academic Conference’ held at Seoul National University.

Professors Yang Seung-kyung and Lee Eun-joo.

The paper titled “Post-Traumatic Growth Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Grounded Theory Approach” identified that breast cancer survivors undergo four stages of psychological growth?‘reflection, recovery, transition, and achievement’?while experiencing the disease, and it was highly evaluated for providing important implications for the future development of psychological support programs for breast cancer survivors.

This paper deeply explores how breast cancer survivors overcome suffering and reconstruct their lives.

According to the paper, “In 2021, the number of breast cancer cases in South Korea was 28,720 per 100,000 population, ranking first among female cancers, with the highest incidence observed in the 35?64 age group.”

It also states, “With early detection and diagnosis, advances in medical technology and treatment methods, the breast cancer survival rate increased to 93.8% between 2017 and 2021, but patients still face challenges such as uncertainty, loss of identity, isolation and misunderstanding, issues returning to work, and treatment aftereffects.”

Furthermore, it introduces, “The purpose of this paper is to understand how breast cancer survivors grow through interactions with themselves and others after their cancer diagnosis and to develop a situation-specific theory explaining post-traumatic growth in breast cancer survivors.”

In conclusion, it says, “The core category in the post-traumatic growth process of breast cancer survivors was identified as ‘finding true life after the pain of death,’ and the central phenomenon was confirmed as ‘determination for a life without regrets,’” adding that “regional characteristics may influence post-traumatic growth experiences, so research expanding diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds is necessary.”

Meanwhile, the Korean Qualitative Research Association is a leading academic society in the field of qualitative research in Korea, awarding the Excellent Paper Award annually to outstanding studies published in the academic journal ‘University Qualitative Research.’