Cultural influence and narrative reconstruction: resilience- building among Chinese breast cancer survivors and implications for social work.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates how Chinese breast cancer survivors reconstruct damaged identities and negotiate cultural norms to build resilience within a specific socio-cultural context.

METHODS

Using narrative inquiry and a life-course perspective, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 female breast cancer survivors in Beijing. The study employed thematic narrative analysis to identify cross-cutting patterns while preserving individual story integrity. Rigor was ensured through data saturation and member checking.

RESULTS

Resilience is manifested as a transformative narrative practice across three dimensions: (1) body narrative, survivors transition from chaos narratives to quest narratives, reclaiming identities by ascribing meaning to physical scars; (2) relational narrative, survivors negotiate the tension between Confucian gender expectations and self-care, shifting from stoic endurance to accepting vulnerability; and (3) social narrative, survivors bridge the gap between "silent island" of isolation and collective empowerment by establishing narrative communities that challenge social stigma.

IMPLICATIONS: These findings reveal a duality of resilience-constrained by cultural structures yet empowered with agency. This study proposes a tripartite social work interventions framework, recommending that social workers act as narrative witnesses, cultural mediators, and community architects. By integrating local cultural wisdom with narrative techniques, social workers can effectively facilitate identity reconstruction and the social integration of breast cancer survivors.