In 2014, as the number of survivors dwindles, the representation of their memory and testimony after they have gone becomes increasingly important. Although it is critical to discuss the historical facts of the atrocities of World War II, those facts often do not reach the personal experiences of many survivors, who can only express many of the details of their experiences through an expression of their memories through testimony. One such testimony is that of Wanda Bielecka, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. This practice-based research (consisting of a film and accompanying thesis) explores her memories as they are expressed through her own testimony, and the testimony of her testimony of eleven members of her family. The practice element of the PhD consists of a 73-minute film called Wanda. Wanda is a found footage narrative, a new form of film developed to answer the following research question: how is survivor experience represented in the collective memory of a survivor’s family, and how can the form of the found footage narrative be used as a way of understanding the construction of that memory? This research will explore the collective memory of the Bielecka family around the events of Wanda’s life during World War II from her incarceration in Auschwitz to her eventual liberation and journey to Paris. This collective memory will be explored as a mythology around Wanda’s experience. The film itself will then reflexively reveal its’ own place in the construction of that mythology. A formal conception of the dialectical image is fundamental to the film’s form. This form has been developed through research into essayistic modes in literature and film. It will be shown that the found footage narrative is a form of film that can be used to research, not just the collective memory around Wanda’s experience, but also other instances of collective memory.

Thesis advisor: Wen Fan / This thesis investigated the impact that cancer has on young adult survivors of childhood malignancies. Existing studies explore varying physical, psychosocial, and psychological, late effects experienced by survivors of childhood cancer. However, there exists a gap in survivorship literature; young adults, and young adult survivors of childhood cancer in particular, are understudied compared to adult and pediatric survivors. Moreover, most studies address objective, clinical, aspects of cancer survivorship. They rarely focus on survivors’ subjective experiences. Yet, previous research suggests that positive cognitive appraisals of adverse life events such as cancer mitigate detrimental psychosocial and psychological symptomologies later in life. This study adopted the life course perspective to investigate the subjective experiences of young adult survivors of childhood cancer. It examined how events such as cancer diagnoses and transitions back to school are interconnected throughout one’s entire life history, rather than analyzing these specific occurrences as isolated events. Participants were invited to fill out two existing quality of life surveys and take part in an interview to explore areas of survivorship previously identified as being specific to young adult survivors. An analysis of interview transcripts and survey data revealed three major events that occur after being diagnosed with a pediatric malignancy. Furthermore, each participant not only recalled positive subjective experiences over the course of these checkpoints, but ultimately found positive meaning from their cancer experience. This thesis suggests that positive subjective experiences soon after a cancer diagnosis are critical in ensuring that patients have favorable conceptions of their journeys and their aftermath. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

Cancer survivors typically adapt well to life following remission; however, some patients still experience lingering negative moods that may develop into depression. There are multiple factors that can contribute to depressive symptoms from somatic symptoms, to emotion and social concerns. When analyzing these contributing factors, an underlying theory of a connection between the symptoms of depression and inflammation was revealed. Although this was not shown to be a causal association, it set forward some theories on the pathogenesis of depression in cancer survivors who may have persistent inflammation following treatment. As cancer patients are a growing group due to improvements in treatment and an aging general population, early identification of high-risk survivors and research into new treatment methods is essential. Depression in survivors can lead to an inability to follow through on medical care, decreased quality of life and poorer patient health outcomes. Currently, depressive symptoms are treated primarily on an individual basis, determining if there is a common underlying biological mechanism that could help scientists develop new guidelines for the treatment of survivors. Research studies demonstrated interdependence between conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment and depression. Current published literature on each of these conditions was explored and while each of these conditions have demonstrated connections to inflammatory pathways and specific cytokines, there does not appear to be one common underlying mechanism. Preliminary research has presented some options for future treatments that can mitigate the severity of the inflammation caused during traditional cancer therapies. These preventative measures address certain cytokine pathways that have been associated with negative side effects. As emotional and social concerns can add to a survivor’s stress causing stimulation of inflammatory pathways, evidence-based methods for reducing stress have been discussed and include exercise, psychosocial and occupational therapy interventions as well as legislative advocacy for better insurance coverage. There are some limitations in the current literature on the topic as much of the survivor research centers on patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer. There are several diverse subgroups of cancer survivors including childhood, adolescent and young adult, and adult cancer survivors, and comprehensive research should be conducted across these cohorts to ascertain which groups are at a higher risk for certain symptoms and stresses. Furthermore, research into novel treatment options has focused mainly on pharmacological solutions to the negative impacts of chemotherapy. While several studies have theorized about possible, persistent biological mechanisms underlying radiotherapy, few drugs have been suggested or developed to combat the late effects of inflammation including fibrosis. Many of the suggested treatments can be given as a co-treatment alongside of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery; in the future, research should be conducted on the effects of reducing inflammatory levels in patients already in remission.

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Thesis advisor: Lisa Wood Magee / Background: Chronic cancer-related pain is a considerable problem in cancer survivors. The incidence of chronic pain in cancer survivors is nearly double the rate in the general population. Chronic cancer-related pain reduces quality of life and results in higher healthcare utilization. Due to a lack of alternative treatments, the management of chronic cancer-related pain relies on a biomedical model, with opioids being the cornerstone of cancer-related pain management. As concerns about the risks of long-term opioid therapy rise, there is a need to understand the factors that influence chronic cancer-related pain experience. This manuscript dissertation aims to answer the overarching question, “What are the unique factors that inform the chronic cancer-related pain experience in cancer survivors?” Methods: First, an integrative review aimed to examine the evidence of long-term opioid use in cancer-survivors. Next, a qualitative study using descriptive phenomenology was conducted to develop a deeper understanding of the daily lived experience of chronic cancer-related pain. And finally, a prospective cross-section quantitative study was completed to quantify the contribution of unique cancer-specific factors to the chronic cancer-related pain experience in cancer survivors. Results: The integrative review shed light on the biopsychosocial factors associated with the transition to long-term opioid therapy (LTOT), including the role of cancer type, medical comorbidities, mental health diagnoses, and socioeconomic factors. No studies examined pain severity, pain interference, or cancer-specific psychosocial factors in cancer survivors prescribed LTOT. Second, cancer survivors describe living with chronic cancer-related pain as the cost of survival. Yet, their suffering was often invisible to others. The role of opioids in chronic cancer-related pain leads to strained communication with clinicians and the need to self-navigate a treatment plan characterized by ‘trying everything’. And finally, select cancer-specific psychosocial factors explained relatively little variance in the pain experience compared to non-cancer specific factors of multisite pain and pain catastrophizing. Conclusions: The constellation of the finding from this body of work demonstrates unique factors that inform the chronic cancer-related pain experience in cancer survivors, and several areas of overlap with other chronic pain syndromes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

Past research demonstrates that participants who label themselves as ‘victims' experience worse trauma-related outcomes than those who label themselves as ‘survivors.' Self-labeling in trauma research is typically measured using a dichotomous measure where participants choose either victim or survivor, but this construct may be better conceived as more continuous. The current study assessed self-labeling as a possible continuous construct and explored its predictive validity. To capture self-labeling as a continuous construct, we created and utilized a new scale, the Trauma Self-Labeling Measure. Two hundred eleven participants completed a battery of questionnaires to measure self-labeling and four trauma-related outcomes: posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, anxiety, and resilience. When tested on the continuous trauma self-labeling measure, an overwhelming number of participants chose in-between victim and survivor (78.9%) which suggests self-labeling is better assessed using a continuous measure than dichotomous. However, correlation analyses revealed that the continuous self-labeling measure was not significantly correlated to the four trauma-related outcomes, whereas the dichotomous self-labeling, continuous victim, and continuous survivor measures were. When conducting post-hoc analyses, we found an unexpected positive correlation between the continuous victim and survivor self-labeling measures. This unexpected positive correlation suggests that self-labeling is not a singular construct, as previously assumed, but rather is composed of separate victim and survivor constructs. In conclusion, the current study provides the first empirical evidence to support the idea that self-labeling is more continuous than dichotomous and composed of two separate constructs of victim and survivor.

In this groundbreaking Master's thesis, Rameesha Qazi explores the critical realm of survivor care policies and toolkits within the NGO space, driven by her own experience of sexual violence during my work abroad. Rooted in a survivor-centered and trauma-informed framework, my analysis encompasses an evaluation of policies from organizations and essential toolkits, revealing striking gaps in addressing systemic barriers, recognizing trauma's nuanced impact, and supporting diverse coping strategies. A unique contribution to the field and in recognizing contextual variations in survivor needs, I introduce a country guide as a practical tool for NGOs to enhance their survivor care policies, providing a roadmap for how to address gaps in support. Furthermore, extending the focus beyond policies, I scrutinize toolkits from prominent organizations and propose recommendations, emphasizing the crucial need to engage survivors, provide comprehensive support, and amplify survivor voices. The thesis not only underscores the urgency for trauma-informed, survivor-led approaches but also challenges prevailing norms in the development sector. It aims to reshape the discourse around sexual exploitation and abuse, advocating for tangible, sustainable change in policies and toolkits to ensure the safety, support, and empowerment of survivors within the NGO space. This research stands as a testament to the imperative role of survivor voices in shaping effective, adequate, and sustainable solutions for combating sexual violence within the development sector.

This thesis examines the use of restorative justice with cases of sexual assault in Canada through the perspective of practitioner experience. It concludes that restorative justice for sexual assault is an innovative and viable justice practice that should be offered to survivor-victims as an option for their justice-seeking process. A literature review was undertaken to create a summary of past and current academic perspectives on the topic and to provide context for the interviews. Interviews were conducted with 12 restorative justice practitioners in Canada who have experience facilitating or participating in restorative justice processes that dealt with sexual assault. The data from the interviews was analyzed using thematic coding to produce a set of themes based on practitioner experience. The data was also used to examine the ethical issues that are relevant in the current landscape. This thesis determines that practitioners are knowledgeable about the practices that can make the restorative justice process safer. It finds that practitioners report being able to meet the varying needs of survivor-victims through procedural flexibility. It observes that they struggle with the practical and ethical tensions that arise in their work, but these tensions are manageable, and they are committed to working with them. Restorative justice has the potential to address a sexual assault case successfully when survivor-victim needs are met, safer practices are used, and practitioners are informed about the complexities and varying experiences of sexual assault. / Graduate

Research report presented to the Unisa School of Business Leadership / The purpose of the research is an investigation into how employee involvement can be used as a tool towards raising levels of engagement within actively disengaged employees at Ngwane Mills.