The podium illusion: a phenomenological study of the influence of social support on well-being and performance in elite para swimmers

Abstract Background The value of social support in enhancing performance is well established in non-impaired and sub-international level athletes with impairments. Despite this, no research to date has explored the experiences of social support in elite para-athletes. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of social support in elite British para-swimmers and the influence on their wellbeing and performance. Methods A hermeneutic phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews was undertaken with 8 elite British para-swimmers (3 male, 5 female, mean age 24.9 years). Participants represented 5 para-swimming classes and all 10 of the International Paralympic Committee impairment categories. Data were analysed following a modified version of the Framework Method. Research quality and trustworthiness were ensured through employing techniques including data triangulation, member checking and reflexivity. Results Five themes and 11 sub-themes were generated. The five themes were: ‘the coach-athlete relationship’, ‘team bond’, ‘tangible aid’, ‘The Podium Illusion’ and ‘British para-swimming’. The overall findings and the magnitude of support mentioned in the fourth theme led to the development of a new model called ‘The Podium Illusion’ which reflects the magnitude of support that is available to elite para-swimmers to help maximise their performance and wellbeing. Conclusion Social support is essential for athlete wellbeing and performance. Findings underpin a new model, ‘The Podium Illusion’.

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Physical Activity Experiences of Women Aging with Disabilities

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly ◽

10.1123/apaq.21.2.122 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 122-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Donna L. Goodwin ◽

Scott G. Compton

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Physical Disabilities ◽

Medical Model ◽

Acquired Brain Injury ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Experiences Of Women ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

This hermeneutic phenomenological study sought to understand the experiences of physical activity and aging with a disability. Six women with physical disabilities, including cerebral palsy (n = 2), acquired brain injury (n = 1), and spinal cord injury (n = 3), and between the ages of 22-37 years (mean age = 28 years) participated in the study. Their experiences were captured by way of semi-structured interviews. Each participant completed two interviews that were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The thematic analysis revealed three themes: experiencing something normal, loss of physical freedom, and maintaining function through physical activity. Implications of the findings were discussed within the context of health promotion and Verbrugge and Jette’s (1994) socio-medical model of disablement.

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Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on Life Experience of the 30-40’s Voluntary Single Women

Family and Environment Research ◽

10.6115/fer.2020.015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 201-214

Author(s):

Hyerim Han ◽

Jimin Lee

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Life Experience ◽

Social Economic ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Single Women ◽

Economic Base ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽

Van Manen ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

This study researched the life experiences of 30-40’s voluntary single women. Currently, a growing number of women in their 30s and 40s in South Korea are voluntarily choosing single life to achieve self-realization and focus on their lives. We want to take note of this phenomenon and take an in-depth the lives of voluntary single life beings they are experiencing by using hermeneutic phenomenological study method of Van Manen. The results of this study are as follows. First, 30-40s voluntary single women have experienced desire of self-realization through their single life. Second, they were satisfied with their lives based on the concept of having free choices, stable social support and they social-economic base. Third, they have experienced a low awareness of single life in society and many people. Last, they were preparing for their future lives for their physical health, finances, and role as parents’ provider. This study provides a better understanding of the lives of 30-40s voluntary single women.

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Adaptive Coping Strategies in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: A Phenomenological Study

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology ◽

10.32598/ijpcp.26.3.2975.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 478-489

Author(s):

Mahmood Shamshiri ◽

◽

Behzad Eskandar Oghli ◽

Maryam Vafaee ◽

Behnam Molaei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Common Causes ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽

Coping Factor

Objectives: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most common causes of disability worlwide. Perception of coping strategies is important in these patients. This study aims to investigate the coping strategies in patients with SCI. Methods: This is a hermeneutic phenomenological study using van Mann’s approach. participants werre 15 adults (4 females, 11 males) with SCI living in Ardail, Iran who were recruited using a purposive sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Interviews were recoreded and then transcribed and finally analyzed by using the thematic analysis approach proposed by van Mann. Results: The lived experiences related to coping strategies in patients were summarized in six main themes including acceptence of the incurability, desire for being independent, praying for divine help, patience & persuasion, time as a coping factor, and marriage. Conclusion: Patients with SCI use their own strategies to cope with their disability. Therefore, it is necessary for clinicians and psychiatrists to strengthen their coping strategies to help them better adapt to their injury

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Social construction of the experience of living with chronic kidney disease

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/1518-8345.2439.3028 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Claudia Andrea Ramírez-Perdomo ◽

Mari Carmen Solano-Ruíz

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Economic Status ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽

The Individual ◽

The University ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the experience of people living with Chronic Kidney Disease who have been transplanted, from the meanings constructed based on the experienced phenomenon. Method: Hermeneutic-phenomenological study based on the five lifeworld existentials, according to Van Manen’s theoretical framework. Eleven transplanted patients participated in the study and data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews, after approval of the study by the Ethics Committee of the University of Antioquia. Results: The theme of Living with Chronic Kidney Disease emerged, and the subthemes were grouped as lifeworld existentials of Temporality: something unexpected, being present and not seeing it, being young and sick. Relationality: support, feeling stuck and Terminal Chronic Renal Failure. Spatiality: changes in life, sadness and depression. Corporeality: body deterioration and changes in sex life. Materiality: effects on the economic status. Conclusions: The care provided to people must be oriented in order to recognize their individualities, understanding what the illness means for the individual and his family, how they live with it and what the changes are, leading them to modify their lives and start a long process, such as living with a chronic disease.

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Unexplored Aspects of the Meaning of Living with Chronic Heart Failure: A Phenomenological Study within the Framework of the Model of Interpersonal Relationship between the Nurse and the Person/Family Cared for

Clinical Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/1054773819898825 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 105477381989882

Author(s):

Maddi Olano-Lizarraga ◽

Jesús Martín-Martín ◽

Cristina Oroviogoicoechea ◽

Maribel Saracíbar-Razquin

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Chronic Heart Failure ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Interpersonal Relationship ◽

Well Being ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽

Practice Method ◽

Conversational Interviews ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽

Complicated Situation

The complicated situation experienced by chronic heart failure (CHF) patients affects their entire well-being but clinical practice continues to fail to adequately respond to their demands. The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of living with CHF from the patient’s perspective. A hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted according to Van Manen’s phenomenology of practice method. Individual conversational interviews were held with 20 outpatients with CHF. Six main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Living with CHF involves a profound change in the person; (2) The person living with CHF has to accept their situation; (3) The person with CHF needs to feel that their life is normal and demonstrate it to others; (4) The person with CHF needs to have hope; (5) Having CHF makes the person continuously aware of the possibility of dying; (6) The person with CHF feels that it negatively influences their close environment.

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Lived experiences of social support in Paralympic swimmers: A protocol for a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039953 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e039953

Author(s):

Beth Aitchison ◽

Andrew Soundy ◽

Paul Martin ◽

Alison Rushton ◽

Nicola R Heneghan

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Performance Enhancement ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Well Being ◽

Professional Support ◽

Support Network ◽

Disability Sport ◽

And Performance

IntroductionOver the past decade, there has been an increase in awareness of and investment into disability sport as a result of the ‘Paralympic Movement’. The provision of personal and professional support to elite athletes is important for the well-being and success of the athlete, with various studies advocating a holistic approach to performance enhancement. However, little is known about social support experiences in elite para-swimming. Swimming is a popular Paralympic sport and the British para swimmers have been very successful in recent years, most recently winning 47 medals at Rio 2016. This study will be the first to explore the lived experiences of British Paralympic swimmers with respect to the personal and professional support available, perceived use of the support network and the influence it has on well-being and performance.Methods and analysisA hermeneutic phenomenological study will be undertaken using a subtle-realist paradigmatic view. A purposive sample of British Paralympic swimmers will be recruited to enable exploration of social support experiences. In-depth semistructured interviews will explore participants’ experiences of being an elite para-athlete, their support network, the social support available and how they perceive it relates to their well-being and performance. Strategies including reflexivity and member checking will be used to ensure trustworthiness. Data will be analysed following the Framework Method; a seven-stage process used for qualitative data analysis.Ethics and disseminationThis study has ethical approval (ERN_20–0344) granted by the University of Birmingham in April 2020. The findings of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to key stakeholders in elite para-sport to inform support services and improve athlete well-being and performance.

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Impact of critical illness news on the family: hermeneutic phenomenological study

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0163 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

pp. 170-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anabela Pereira Mendes

Keyword(s):

Critical Illness ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Family Members ◽

Well Being ◽

Phenomenological Approach ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽

The Family ◽

The Impact ◽

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

ABSTRACT Objective: Understand the impact of critical-illness news on the experience of family members at an Intensive Care Unit. Method: Phenomenological approach according to Van Manen's method. Open interviews were held with 21 family members. From analysis and interpretation of the data, three essential themes were identified: the unexpected; the pronouncement of death; and the impact on self-caring within the family. The study complied with the ethical principles inherent to research involving humans. Results: The unexpected news and death of the sick person influence the well-being and self-care of family members, affecting their ability for analysis and decision making. It was observed that the family experiences the news with suffering, mainly due to the anticipation arising from the events. Final considerations: The humanity of nurses was revealed in response to the needs of the family. In view of the requirements for information, it was verified that the information transmitted allowed them to become aware of themselves, to become empowered in their daily lives and to alleviate the emotional burden experienced.

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