The Impact of Volunteers on the Social Feeling of Children with Oncology: A Case Study

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the role of volunteers in supporting the social feeling of children with cancer. Based on the concept of ‘social feeling’ developed by the Austrian physician and psychologist Alfred Adler, the mechanisms by which volunteers contribute to the integration of children into the social space despite the limitations imposed by medical institutions, are examined. This aspect has not received sufficient attention. The article discusses how organizing activities involving volunteers, children, parents, and medical staff creates a temporary social environment that promotes emotional support and improves the quality of life for the children. Activities, including games, performances, and joint activities, help children to feel important, to be included in the collective, and to understand their social roles. Volunteers play a key role in this process by creating an atmosphere of joy and support, leading to positive emotional changes in the children. The study is based on data from participant observation and interviews with volunteers and parents of sick children. The results show that such activities help to reduce stress and anxiety levels in both children and their parents. Parents note not only external manifestations of joy and vitality in their children, but also internal changes, such as increased openness to communication and a positive outlook on life. Medical staff also emphasize the positive effects of such activities. Doctors and nurses note an improvement in children’s mood, which makes the treatment and rehabilitation process easier. In addition, these activities allow the staff themselves to refocus and receive emotional relief, helping them to cope with professional burnout. The study highlights the importance of volunteering in palliative care for children with cancer. Volunteers not only help to create an atmosphere of joy and interaction, but also support the maintenance of a sense of sociality, which is a crucial element in improving the quality of life and psychological well-being of young patients.