An exploration of positive identity development in women living with chronic pain

Hillary Sharpe, Kevin Alderson, Sandra Collins

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Articlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We explored the concept of living positively with chronic pain using a mixedmethods 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.

Original languageEnglish
JournalQualitative Report
Volume18
Issue number15
Publication statusPublished - Apr. 2013

Keywords

  • Chronic pain
  • Coping
  • Hermeneutic phenomenology
  • Identity
  • Women's health

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