ERIC Number: EJ1005505
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1052-0147
EISSN: N/A
An Exploration of Positive Identity Development in Women Living with Chronic Pain
Sharpe, Hillary; Alderson, Kevin; Collins, Sandra
Qualitative Report, v18 Article 29 2013
We explored the concept of living positively with chronic pain using a mixed-methods design that relied primarily on hermeneutic phenomenology. Ten women described their experiences of developing a positive identity while contending with chronic pain. Throughout their journeys, the women interviewed experienced a number of key themes including: the sense of being separate from their bodies, the failure of the biomedical system, and the creation of support networks. Three major categories emerged from the data: (a) Before Diagnosis, (b) Redefinition of Self, and (c) Moving Forward. The implications for healthcare providers and the limitations of this study are discussed. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Self Concept, Females, Adults, Chronic Illness, Pain, Medical Services, Clinical Diagnosis, Self Advocacy, Positive Attitudes, Religious Factors, Social Support Groups, Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, Mixed Methods Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A