Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40200422›Full record

SynthesisPsycho-oncology2025

Adolescent Loneliness When a Parent Has Cancer: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

Lydia Mckeown, Kerry Campbell, Martin Dempster, Jenny Groarke, Lisa Graham-Wisener

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psycho-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Lydia MckeownSchool of Psychology, Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0009-0008-0819-5128
Kerry CampbellSchool of Psychology, Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Martin DempsterSchool of Psychology, Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Jenny GroarkeSchool of Psychology, Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Lisa Graham-WisenerSchool of Psychology, Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.

Funding

The Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aim of this systematic review was to synthesise the available qualitative evidence relating to adolescent loneliness (aged 10-19) when a parent has cancer. This included considering how adolescents experience loneliness when their parent has cancer and exploring the perceived factors that influence this experience.

methodsA qualitative systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise and critically evaluate loneliness in adolescents experiencing parental cancer. The JBI qualitative systematic review approach was followed throughout, including quality appraisal, data extraction and a meta-aggregative synthesis. The reports were screened by two independent reviewers and conflicts were resolved by a third reviewer. The review was pre-registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023409596).

resultsA total of 17 papers were included, published between 2007-2024. Findings indicate that young people experiencing parental cancer are lonely and deal with overwhelming emotions alone. Loneliness is intensified by a lack of understanding from peers and family constrained communication. Family and social support may protect young people against experiencing loneliness.

conclusionsAlthough there is a dearth of research on parental cancer which has focused on loneliness in this population, the analysis revealed that experiences of loneliness are indeed apparent in this cohort. Future research should focus on interviewing this population to develop a more comprehensive understanding of their lived experience.

Indexed as

Child of Impaired ParentsLonelinessNeoplasmsParentsAdolescentChildHumansQualitative ResearchSocial SupportYoung Adultadolescencecancerlonelinessmental healthparental cancerpsycho‐oncologypsychosocialqualitativesocial isolationyouth

Identifiers

PMID40200422
PMCPMC11979319

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.