Ph.d. defense: People with cancer benefited from participating in reading groups

When cancer patients participate in shared reading groups, they experience an increase in quality of life. Open discussions related to literature, a sense of community, and the opportunity to have control over their own lives can be reasons why participating in reading groups is positive for people with cancer.

This is shown in a study conducted by Tine Riis Andersen at the National Center for Reading Education and Research, University of Stavanger (UiS).

Tine Riis Andersen will defend her PhD thesis on Wednesday, December 11, with the dissertation "It gives my life an extra quality during this time of illness." Three Case Studies Investigating Shared Reading as Psychosocial Support for People Living with Cancer.

The dissertation is available here.

– What have you researched?

– Shared Reading groups as a psychosocial support for cancer patients in cancer organisations both physical and online. Shared Reading is a reading group practice developed in Liverpool by the organisation The Reader. There is focus on the participants' experience of the literature read and personal connections.

– What did you find out?

– Listening to and discussing short stories and poems that was not about cancer, but life in general offered an open space which is not cancer centered but still have room for talking about. And this sharing happened in a more natural way, as it was through the texts when they experienced a strong resonance with something in the text and wanted to share it. Even though the texts were not about cancer they still made connections to their own illness experience, but it was up to them how much and when they wanted to share.

– Then the double activity of listening and having a copy of the text in hand (reading) helped them to concentrate and understand the text better than if they read alone at home. In fact, this combination was experienced as beneficial as a cognitive training, as many of struggled with concentration, reading and remembering after many demanding treatments. Focusing on the activity, as this required some effort, also helped them to disconnect from being in an illness process with hospital appointments and many worries.

– The group also provided a feeling of being part of a community. Together they were collaborating to open up for the texts, create meaning. And through this process many personal stories were shared and they got to know each other. Finally, they had some meaningful reading experiences, that continued to impact them, where the texts became part of their coping process and where they are making sense of their illness experiences, and connecting the past, present and future.

– Online shared reading worked as well, and can reach patients who are not able to join a physical group. This can potentially also include inward-patients or patients who receive chemotherapy treatments at the hospital.

– What can the research findings be used for?

– Understanding the potentials of integrating Shared Reading groups (both physical and online) as an offer in cancer organizations. Understanding the significance of literature in an illness process and readers life in general.

Welcome to the Defense

All interested parties are welcome to attend the defense in person at Kjølv Egeland's House, E-164, or digitally via this link (Meeting ID: 356 828 628 481, Password: JYXQB6).

Wednesday, December 11

• 10:00 AM: Trial Lecture
  • Title of the trial lecture: “What makes literature healthy?”
• 12:00 PM: Defense

Members of the dissertation committee:

• Associate Professor Thor Magnus Tangerås, Kristiania University College
• Professor Rhiannon Corcoran, University of Liverpool, UK
• Associate Professor Jana Javorčíková, Matej Bel University, Slovakia
• Associate Professor Arne Olav Nygard, National Center for Reading Education and Research, UiS

Supervisors:

• Main Supervisor: Professor Anne Mangen, National Center for Reading Education and Research, UiS
• Co-Supervisors: Professor Frank Hakemulder, Utrecht University; Associate Professor Zuzana Petrová, Trnava University; and Researcher Erin McTigue, National Center for Reading Education and Research, UiS

Chair of the Defense:

• Professor Kjersti Lundetræ, Director of the National Center for Reading Education and Research, UiS

Tine Riis Andersen has been a PhD candidate at the National Center for Reading Education and Research, UiS, and the Faculty of Education, Trnava University.