A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study of Widowhood for African-American Women

2005 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracie Harrison ◽  
David L. Kahn ◽  
Mutsu Hsu
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
American Women ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Meaning Structure ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽  
Depth Interviews

There is a dearth of bereavement and healthcare literature on the experience of widowhood for African-American women. This hermeneutic phenomenological study of 11 African-American widows used demographic questions, field notes, and in-depth interviews to understand their experience. The physical loss of the marital bond and the psychological growth toward increased independence was examined within the context of the widows' relationships with their deceased spouses, families, churches, and friends. Their experiences were contextualized within the meaning structure provided by their faith and interpreted based upon descriptions of their cultural and historical context. From the analysis, four themes emerged: Defining Needs and Relaxing Boundaries, Releasing the Sadness and Keeping Busy, Being Together, and Going on Alone.

scholarly journals Pain: the voiceless scream in every haemophilia patient’s life

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoume Rambod ◽  
Farkhondeh Sharif ◽  
Zahra Molazem ◽  
Kate Khair
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Pain is a major problem in haemophilia patients’ lives. The perspective of pain in such patients is unique and may be different from other chronic illnesses. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to describe and interpret pain experience of haemophilia patients. Participants were selected from a haemophilia clinic affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Taking the main theme, “pain: the voiceless scream in every moment of haemophilia life”, with two subthemes, “a life full of pain” and “describing complex pain quality”, data was collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and field notes, and thematic analysis conducted using van Manen’s methodological framework for reflective hermeneutic interpretation. The findings indicated that pain always accompanied the lives of haemophilia patients. Participants experienced acute intense pains, accompanied by bleeding, which were described as “terrible”, “severe”, “intolerable” and “unbelievable”. As joints became damaged over time, participants experienced persistent pain that was “continuous” and “constant”. Participants also coped with ever-present pain in immobile joints, described as “intense”, “annoying” and “intolerable”. This qualitative study shows that pain is present throughout haemophilia patients’ lives and that they experience different kinds of pain, demonstrated through various descriptions. By understanding the experience of pain from the perspective of haemophilia patients, nurses and healthcare workers can provide high-quality care focused on their unique needs.

“Keeping It Real”: The Relational Effects of Trauma Among African American Women and Their Substance Abuse Treatment Counselors

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 3405-3436
Author(s):  
Joan M. Blakey ◽  
Kimberly B. Grocher
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
African American ◽  
Substance Abuse Treatment ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Healthy Relationships ◽  
American Women ◽  
Abuse Treatment ◽  
Depth Interviews

African American women experience disproportionately high rates of trauma. Interpersonal forms of trauma often make it much more difficult for trauma survivors to initiate and maintain positive, healthy relationships with others. This study examined the kinds of relationships women with extensive histories of trauma and substance had with their substance abuse treatment counselors and the characteristics that they believe contributed to connected and disconnected client–counselor relationships. Using the case study method, 26 in-depth interviews were conducted with African American women. Data analysis revealed three primary kinds of relationships women had with their substance abuse treatment counselors: reparative, damaging, and transactional. Eighteen (69%) of the 26 women had reparative relationships with their counselors. Reparative relationships had two primary characteristics: empowering and mattering. Two (8%) of the 26 women had damaging relationships with their substance abuse treatment counselors. Damaging relationships had two primary characteristics: unimportant and untrustworthy. Six of the women (23%) had transactional relationships with their substance abuse treatment counselors. Transactional relationships were task-focused and superficial. Healing from interpersonal experiences of trauma is possible only within the context of trusting relationships. Substance abuse treatment counselors have an opportunity to help African American women with histories of trauma heal and recover. Creating positive, therapeutic relationships between clients and professionals is essential.

Parenting Experiences of Mothers who Are Blind in Iran: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Behboodi Moghadam ◽  
Shahrzad Ghiyasvandian ◽  
Samira Shahbazzadegan ◽  
Mahmood Shamshiri
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Professional Educators ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Van Manen ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽  
Depth Interviews

Introduction Mothers, who often serve as primary care-givers for their offspring, play a crucial role in the development of children. Understanding the parenting experiences of mothers who are blind can be valuable and beneficial for professional educators and health care workers who wish to provide holistic and appropriate services to both mothers who are blind and their children. This study aimed to explore the experience of mother-child integration by mothers who are blind living in Iran. Methods A hermeneutic phenomenology approach was adopted to conduct the study. Congruent with this approach, Van Manen's (1990) method consisted of six interplay activities that helped the researchers in the process of the study. Semistructured in-depth interviews were performed to produce qualitative data with nine mothers who are blind. The thematic analysis introduced by Van Manen was used to isolate and extract the meaning units, subthemes, and the main theme hidden in the lived stories of the participants. Results “Close nurturers” was the overarching theme extracted from the experience of mothers who are blind, which emerged from six themes: monitoring by alternative senses, monitoring by careful calls and staying vigilant, loving by heart and imagining in mind, discovering the child's intentions, parenting anxiety, and deficits in communication. Discussion Blindness changes the mothering behaviors of women who are blind to the extent that they often adopt a close-mothering approach in caring for their children. This approach helps them to cope with their limitations and thereby decrease their level of child-related anxiety. Health professionals should consider the concept of close nurturers to better understand the behaviors of mothers who are blind. Implications for practitioners Understanding the lived experiences of mothers with blindness can generate valuable knowledge that can be used to provide appropriate health care and other support services for these women and their children.

A Phenomenological Study of Obesity and Physical Activity in Southern African American Older Women

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela G. Bowen ◽  
Yvonne D. Eaves ◽  
David E. Vance ◽  
Linda D. Moneyham
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
American Women

African American women are more likely to be classified as overweight or obese than European American women and little is known about this phenomenon. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of overweight and obese African American older women living in the southern regions of the United States. Semistructured, audiotaped interviews were conducted to elicit narratives from nine participants. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and then coded and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis framework. Three major categories emerged: impact of health conditions, incongruent perceptions, and the desire for independence. The focus of culturally appropriate interventions aimed at increasing physical activity for this group should incorporate activities that will help them remain independent, because weight loss is not a primary motivator.

scholarly journals Pathway to the President:The Perceived Impact of Identity Structures on the Journey Experiences of Women College Presidents

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Oikelome
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
African American Women ◽  
College Presidents ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Social Constructs ◽  
American Women ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Women College Presidents ◽  
Perceived Impact

This phenomenological study utilizes the framework of Intersectionality to explore the perceived impact of race, gender, and other identity structures on the journey experiences of seven White and six African American women college presidents. Findings suggest that while gender is becoming more peripheral, the interlocking tensions of race and gender often shape the journey experiences of African American women, with race appearing to be a salient factor. Despite challenges resulting from these social constructs, the women employed various strategies for navigating the presidential pipeline including mentorship, leadership development programs, and firm assurance of institutional fit.

African American Women Speak: A Phenomenological Study of African American Women’s Beliefs and Perceptions about Compliance to Treatment Regimen in the Healthcare System

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernice Kennedy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Treatment Regimen ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
American Women

African Americans comprise approximately 13% of the U.S. Population; however African American women are in the upper percentile of healthcare diseases that are preventable such as cardiovascular disorders (e.g., heart disease, blood pressure, and strokes), cancer, and diabetes and HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to provide a forum for African American women living in a southeastern state of the United States to share their experiences with the healthcare system and health practices. The Health Belief Model was a useful health promotion framework for guiding this study. This study sought to answer the following research question: (a) What do African American women report about their beliefs and perceptions about affecting treatment regimen in the healthcare system. The research study consisted of 50 African American women recruited from various communities in one rural county of a southern state in the United States. Results of findings consist of nine themes: The nine themes were as follows: (a) distrust of health care providers; (b) difficulties communicating to health provider; (c) poor quality of patient education instructions; (d) lack of knowledge about treatment regimen; (e) Inadequate time management and inability to manage health treatment regimen; (f) inadequate access to care; (f) unaffordable cost; (g) lack of healthy lifestyle practices; and (I) inadequate coping skills. The community /public health nurse is in a key position to advocate and promote health promotion programs for vulnerable groups in communities. Forming partnerships would be useful in developing programs to improve the overall health needs of African American women. Culture competent education for health professionals remains a critical issue in the current health system when improving compliance with the treatment regimen for African American. Future research needs to examine the contributing psychosocial factors of African Americans and compliance with the treatment regime.

Meaning in Stroke Family Caregiving in China: A Phenomenological Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjun Zhang ◽  
Diana Tze Fan Lee
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Role Meaning ◽  
Chinese Caregivers ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽  
Culturally Tailored Interventions ◽  
Depth Interviews

Meaning in caregiving plays an influential role in stroke family caregiver’s perception and adaptation to caregiving. Although the role meaning plays in stroke family caregiving has been recognized, knowledge about this subject among the Chinese population is fragmented and sparse. Therefore, a hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted as a first step in a program of research focused on Chinese caregivers utilizing a purposive sample of five stroke family caregivers living in China to explore the meaning of the lived caregiving experience. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed by a phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation. Meaning in stroke family caregiving was interpreted as suffering, an obligation, a personal choice, a meaningful opportunity, and a natural part of living. These meanings were dynamic and interconnected and were affected deeply by the Chinese culture in how caregivers experience, interpret, and cope with caregiving. Findings highlight the need to understand the culture-shaped meanings in caregiving to better support family caregivers and develop culturally tailored interventions.

African American Obese Women’s Perspectives Regarding Barriers to the Utilization of Bariatric Surgery: A Phenomenological Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 484-500
Author(s):  
Darren D. Moore ◽  
Taylor Chandler ◽  
T. Janay Holland ◽  
Y. Monique Davis-Smith ◽  
Ericka N. King
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
African American ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Weight Loss Surgery ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
American Women

The purpose of the study was to explore how obese African American women conceptualize and construct meaning around obesity and bariatric surgery. The authors specifically focused on gaining insight regarding present barriers which may prevent African American women from considering weight loss surgery as a possible option. Utilizing phenomenology as methodological approach, 14 African American obese women, based on body mass index, participated in 30- to 60-minute semistructured interviews regarding their perceptions of bariatric surgery as a treatment intervention for weight reduction. In the study, three themes emerged, which included (a) the meaning of obesity and bariatric surgery, (b) issues in communication, and (c) barriers to bariatric surgery utilization. In the article, the authors discuss clinical implications for African American women and for the medical community, as well as offer recommendations for future research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document