A gender analysis of older adults' cancer self-management in British Columbia
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Background: Half of all Canadians will experience cancer in their lifetime and the majority of older adults with cancer also experience co-morbidities. Self-management – engaging in the management of one’s own health and well-being – for older adults (i.e., those over 65 years of age) with cancer is an understudied phenom. Within this context, there are opportunities to explore gendered patterns to enable tailored interventions and address health inequities. Despite advances to incorporate gender analyses in recent studies, the majority of health research belabors gender binaries and comparisons (men vs. women) and lacks explicit engagement with gender theory which describe diversities and relational patterns operating across a continuum. Purpose: This thesis reports on a gender analysis informed by relational gender theory of a larger research project examining the self-management of cancer in older adults. The two research questions were: (1) What are the gendered dimensions of cancer self-management in older adults?; and (2) How do gendered roles and relationships shape self-management work in older adults with cancer? Methods: Interpretive descriptive qualitative methodology was employed to examine the interview data (N=27) from the larger research project of older adults (13 men and 14 women) from across British Columbia. Results: Three major themes were identified to answer the research questions. They were: (1) shifting gender identity; (2) perceptions of autonomy; and (3) support. Conclusion: The study of gender in a relational context in older adults with cancer is a novel approach. Findings from this study highlight a need for additional gendered research in this population regarding falls, ageism, and mental health. Additionally, tailored interventions should lean towards transportation communication and peer support.
DOI: 10.14288/1.0445277
Author: Labrie, Gillian
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6886046009
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