Distinguished … or dissonant

This qualitative study reflects an analysis of 50 stories told by Americans living with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition marked by widespread physical pain. Stories were randomly collected from The Experience Project, an online public forum, and analyzed using the communication theory of identity as a guiding framework. Thematic analysis was used to examine how the legitimacy narratives of people with fibromyalgia respond to the American discourse of hard work. Three narrative themes emerged from the data: The Personal Experience of Living With Fibromyalgia (personal layer of identity), the Struggle to Complete Everyday and Professional Tasks (enacted layer of identity), and a Limited Ability to Perform Gender Roles (relational layer of identity). Throughout their stories, individuals with FM strive to legitimate their condition and contest the notion that they are lazy. Stories reveal that people suffering from fibromyalgia experience significant personal (e.g. cleaning the house) and professional (e.g. extended sick leave) challenges, as well as serious relational challenges that are often tied to gender roles (e.g. being a good mother). Results provide a variety of implications and directions for future research.

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“Who’s gonna love a junkie? But he does”: Exploring couples’ identity negotiations and dyadic coping in the context of opioid use disorder

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407520903385 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (5) ◽

pp. 1634-1652

Author(s):

Jenny L. Crowley ◽

Laura E. Miller

Keyword(s):

Communication Theory ◽

Romantic Partners ◽

Opioid Use Disorder ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Theoretical Understanding ◽

Communication Theory Of Identity ◽

Identity Negotiations ◽

Identity Gaps

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and people with OUD may rely on romantic partners to dyadically cope with their illness. Guided by the communication theory of identity, this study examines the identity tensions experienced by couples managing OUD and how identity negotiations contribute to couples’ efforts to dyadically cope with OUD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 dyads and 6 individuals ( N = 44), all of whom were in relationships in which at least one partner was managing OUD. Analyses revealed that couples managing OUD experience three types of identity gaps: personal–relational, relational–enacted, and relational–communal identity gaps. These gaps coalesced around a central theme of couple identity paradoxes, which demonstrated the opportunities and potential downsides of dyadically coping with OUD. Findings deepen theoretical understanding of identity negotiation in couples and the role of relational identities in managing illness.

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Why Do Gay Christians Go To Church? Foucault and Religion

10.26686/wgtn.17006323 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Jonathan Timothy Beazer

Keyword(s):

Gay Men ◽

Church Attendance ◽

Sociology Of Religion ◽

International Studies ◽

Gay Identity ◽

Subjective Experiences ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Academic Literature ◽

The Third ◽

The Church

<p>This thesis explores the subjective experiences of New Zealand men who identify as gay and Christian. In particular, the study questions why gay men attend churches that have traditionally not welcomed or supported them. A small number of international studies have investigated gay men who have left the Church but there are few studies of those who stay. This research uses the work of Michel Foucault to theorise the contours of gay Christianity. Foucault's work has been little used in the sociology of religion. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with twelve men who identified as gay and Christian. Transcripts were examined using theoretically based thematic analysis, and three resulting themes are explored. The first theme describes religious exclusion of gay men and the value of supportive networks for gay Christians. The second theme theorises the concept of religious belief as both a type of knowledge/power and a practice, as well as exploring connections between religion and power. The third theme focuses on subjectivity, analysing ways in which those interviewed constructed an integrated gay and Christian self. Church attendance by gay men is attributed to three factors summarised as reasons of faith, reasons of fellowship and reasons of identity. These findings contribute to academic literature concerning religion, gay identity and Foucault, and there is scope for further research in these areas. The use of Foucault's work in this way may contribute to theoretical and methodological developments in the sociology of religion.</p>

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SELF-EFFICACY AND THE PROCESS OF GAY SEXUAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AMONG GAY MEN IN MALAYSIA

Psychological Applications and Trends 2021 ◽

10.36315/2021inpact047 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carmella E. Ading ◽

◽

Aminuddin Ibrahim Lastar ◽

Getrude Cosmas Ahgang ◽

Mohammad Hashim Othman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Identity Development ◽

Sexual Identity ◽

Gay Men ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Gay Identity ◽

Sexual Identity Development ◽

The Government ◽

Sex Orientation

"The development of gay identity sexual among Malaysian gay men were not discussed openly in this country. This is because the government do not approve same sex orientation lifestyle. However, gay men exist in many communities in this country and they are living freely as a citizen and work in the country like others. Malaysia is one of the countries that openly against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Queer (LGBTQ). Nevertheless, they continue to develop their sexual identity as a part of their lives which at the same time causes a great distress in them. Thus, their decision to identify themselves as gays takes huge courage and effort. These courage and effort were found not only just intricately, since it involves emotional and social support from their family, friends and communities. It is also believed that this social support might help gay men to develop their self-efficacy as well. Therefore, it is in the interest of the researchers to explore about self-efficacy by looking at emotional and social support they received and its relation to the development of sexual identity among the gay men who lives in Malaysia. In this qualitative research, semi structured questions were developed to explore sexual identity development among the gay men. Six (6) respondents who have identified themselves as gay, aged between 21- 44 years old, from different walk of life were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Our study has found that emotional and social support, are the important factors that contribute to their self-efficacy and help them in developing their sexual identity."

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Why Do Gay Christians Go To Church? Foucault and Religion

10.26686/wgtn.17006323.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Jonathan Timothy Beazer

Keyword(s):

Gay Men ◽

Church Attendance ◽

Sociology Of Religion ◽

International Studies ◽

Gay Identity ◽

Subjective Experiences ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Academic Literature ◽

The Third ◽

The Church

<p>This thesis explores the subjective experiences of New Zealand men who identify as gay and Christian. In particular, the study questions why gay men attend churches that have traditionally not welcomed or supported them. A small number of international studies have investigated gay men who have left the Church but there are few studies of those who stay. This research uses the work of Michel Foucault to theorise the contours of gay Christianity. Foucault's work has been little used in the sociology of religion. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with twelve men who identified as gay and Christian. Transcripts were examined using theoretically based thematic analysis, and three resulting themes are explored. The first theme describes religious exclusion of gay men and the value of supportive networks for gay Christians. The second theme theorises the concept of religious belief as both a type of knowledge/power and a practice, as well as exploring connections between religion and power. The third theme focuses on subjectivity, analysing ways in which those interviewed constructed an integrated gay and Christian self. Church attendance by gay men is attributed to three factors summarised as reasons of faith, reasons of fellowship and reasons of identity. These findings contribute to academic literature concerning religion, gay identity and Foucault, and there is scope for further research in these areas. The use of Foucault's work in this way may contribute to theoretical and methodological developments in the sociology of religion.</p>

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STEM Identities: A Communication Theory of Identity Approach

Journal of Language and Social Psychology ◽

10.1177/0261927x211030674 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0261927X2110306

Author(s):

Craig O. Stewart

Keyword(s):

Student Persistence ◽

Communication Theory ◽

Personal Attributes ◽

Psychology Research ◽

Engineering Majors ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Communication Theory Of Identity ◽

Undergraduate Engineering ◽

Science Technology ◽

And Mathematics

Education and psychology research has established STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) identities as an important factor in explaining student persistence in STEM fields. Few studies in social psychology of language or communication have investigated STEM identities, despite the fundamentally communicative nature of identity. Identity talk produced in semi-structured interviews with undergraduate engineering majors ( N = 16) at three U.S. universities was analyzed qualitatively using the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) as a sensitizing framework. The analysis showed that these students’ STEM identities emphasized personal attributes such as work ethic and a desire to make a positive difference in the world as well as relationships with peers in engineering. A number of potential identity gaps which might present barriers to forming a STEM identity were also evident in the data. These results underscore the importance of a communicative (interactive and relational) perspective in understanding students’ development and expression of STEM identities.

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‘Are we on the same wavelength?’ International nurses and the process of confronting and adjusting to clinical communication in Australia

Communication & Medicine ◽

10.1558/cam.28953 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 263-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tonia Crawford ◽

Peter Roger ◽

Sally Candlin

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Care Setting ◽

Linguistically Diverse ◽

The Other ◽

Culturally And Linguistically Diverse ◽

Central Theme ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Clinical Communication ◽

Professional Experiences

Effective communication skills are important in the health care setting in order to develop rapport and trust with patients, provide reassurance, assess patients effectively and provide education in a way that patients easily understand (Candlin and Candlin, 2003). However with many nurses from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds being recruited to fill the workforce shortfall in Australia, communication across cultures with the potential for miscommunication and ensuing risks to patient safety has gained increasing focus in recent years (Shakya and Horsefall, 2000; Chiang and Crickmore, 2009). This paper reports on the first phase of a study that examines intercultural nurse patient communication from the perspective of four Registered Nurses from CALD backgrounds working in Australia. Five interrelating themes that were derived from thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews are discussed. The central theme of ‘adjustment’ was identified as fundamental to the experiences of the RNs and this theme interrelated with each of the other themes that emerged: professional experiences with communication, ways of showing respect, displaying empathy, and vulnerability.

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Acceptance of the HPV Vaccine in a Multiethnic Sample of Latinx Mothers

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/1049732320980697 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 472-483

Author(s):

Ana Cristina Lindsay ◽

Madelyne J. Valdez ◽

Denisse Delgado ◽

Emily Restrepo ◽

Yessica M. Guzmán ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care Providers ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Hpv Vaccine ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Future Research ◽

Care Providers ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Direct Benefits ◽

Multiethnic Sample

This descriptive qualitative study explored Latinx mothers’ acceptance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for their adolescent children. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a hybrid method of thematic analysis that incorporated deductive and inductive approaches. Twenty-two ( n = 22), mostly foreign-born, Latinx mothers of male and female adolescents participated in the study. Three main themes and nine subthemes emerged from the analyses. Findings identified the need for increased efforts to raise awareness and knowledge among Latinx mothers of the direct benefits of the HPV vaccine for sons, including stressing prevention of HPV-associated cancers in males. Findings also underscore the need for improved health care providers’ communication and recommendation of the HPV vaccine for Latinx adolescent males. Future research should intervene upon the study’s findings to address barriers that remain and affect Latinx mothers’ acceptance and uptake of the HPV vaccine for their children, in particular their sons.

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Staying Home, Staying Alive: Campus Food Pantry Student Clients’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of Applied Social Science ◽

10.1177/19367244211035671 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193672442110356

Author(s):

Elmira Jangjou

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Future Research ◽

Postsecondary Students ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Short Term ◽

Income Loss ◽

Food Pantry ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Seeking Help

In response to students’ food insecurity, a number of colleges and universities have taken action and established campus food pantries as part of their intervention plans. However, many of these pantries ceased operation due to COVID-19 campus shutdowns. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students, who use a university-provided food pantry. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, the thematic analysis explored the initial coping strategies these students used to endure the pandemic. Findings revealed that many students experienced the immediate effects of the pandemic in the form of income loss, self-isolation, anxiety, and appetite change. Although the pandemic interrupted these students’ journeys to continue their studies and become independent in various ways, the affected students implemented various coping strategies, including seeking help from family or friends, using available resources, cooking at home, and even trying to save money. However, considering that the targeted population in this study was already at risk because of their basic needs insecurity, these postsecondary students require extra attention from their higher education institutions in the case of emergencies, such as a global pandemic. In addition to its timely and relevant findings, this study provides important avenues for future research and intervention efforts.

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Telling Our Stories: Resilience during Resettlement for African Skilled Migrants in Australia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18083954 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 3954

Author(s):

Lillian Mwanri ◽

Leticia Anderson ◽

Kathomi Gatwiri

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

South Australia ◽

Qualitative Inquiry ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Face To Face ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

African Migrants ◽

Cultural Expectations ◽

The Social ◽

Resilience Factors

Background: Emigration to Australia by people from Africa has grown steadily in the past two decades, with skilled migration an increasingly significant component of migration streams. Challenges to resettlement in Australia by African migrants have been identified, including difficulties securing employment, experiences of racism, discrimination and social isolation. These challenges can negatively impact resettlement outcomes, including health and wellbeing. There has been limited research that has examined protective and resilience factors that help highly skilled African migrants mitigate the aforementioned challenges in Australia. This paper discusses how individual and community resilience factors supported successful resettlement Africans in Australia. The paper is contextualised within a larger study which sought to investigate how belonging and identity inform Afrodiasporic experiences of Africans in Australia. Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted with twenty-seven (n = 27) skilled African migrants based in South Australia, using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants were not directly questioned about ‘resilience,’ but were encouraged to reflect critically on how they navigated the transition to living in Australia, and to identify factors that facilitated a successful resettlement. Results: The study findings revealed a mixture of settlement experiences for participants. Resettlement challenges were observed as barriers to fully meeting expectations of emigration. However, there were significant protective factors reported that supported resilience, including participants’ capacities for excellence and willingness to work hard; the social capital vested in community and family support networks; and African religious and cultural values and traditions. Many participants emphasised their pride in their contributions to Australian society as well as their desire to contribute to changing narratives of what it means to be African in Australia. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that despite challenges, skilled African migrants’ resilience, ambition and determination were significant enablers to a healthy resettlement in Australia, contributing effectively to social, economic and cultural expectations, and subsequently meeting most of their own migration intentions. These findings suggest that resilience factors identified in the study are key elements of integration.

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