Lived experiences of social alienation among Chinese women with gynecologic malignancies
A descriptive phenomenological study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22433471 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fengfeng Shen (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital), Lei Ren (0000-0003-0368-9213, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital), Na Zhou (0000-0002-8125-8702, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital), Yiyu Zhuang (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, corresponding author), Chenping Zhu (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital), Liyan Chen (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital), Aifen Ye (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-14 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1842173 |
| OpenAlex | W7168286051 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
Objective To explore the lived experiences of social alienation among Chinese women with gynecologic malignancies and identify the meanings they attached to social withdrawal and reconnection. Methods This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, China, in April 2025. Twelve women with histopathologically confirmed gynecologic malignancies were recruited through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Results Three themes and eight subthemes were identified. Participants described withdrawing from others to protect a threatened identity, including concealing the illness to avoid attention and restricting daily movement and social contact. They also described living in a body that feels changed and exposed, reflected in physical exhaustion and functional limits, changes in appearance and anticipated judgment, and concerns about family reputation and financial strain. Finally, they expressed a desire for understanding and a return to normal life, including feeling misunderstood in relationships and work and seeking work, normality, and meaningful connection. Across accounts, social alienation appeared to arise from the interaction of symptom burden, visible treatment effects, anticipated social judgment, practical constraints, and limited opportunities for understanding and support. Conclusion Social alienation among women with gynecologic malignancies is a multidimensional experience shaped by bodily change, social responses, and practical barriers to participation. Supportive care should include psychosocial assessment, family-informed communication, peer support, and individualized assistance with social and occupational reintegration.
Alienation · Feeling · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Lived experience · Nonprobability sampling · Psychosocial · Social alienation · Social support · Cancer survivorship and care · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments · Social Work
| Highly cited | No |
|---|