Frameworks for Ascribing Meaning: An Examination of Adolescents' Lived Experiences of Illness

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Winford, E. (2013). Frameworks for Ascribing Meaning: An Examination of Adolescents' Lived Experiences of Illness. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The importance of religion and spirituality (R & S) in adults' experiences of illness is well established. Findings range from lower reported levels of distress following diagnoses of illnesses to adults' use of these existential frameworks to understand life events. However, few such studies include adolescents, a group facing a series of normative, but potentially stressful changes. Most quantitative studies of R & S, adolescent health behaviors, and/or psychological well-being do not address R & S in the context of serious physical illnesses, and they do not allow adolescents to describe how meaning-making occurs during times of illness or whether R & S may be involved in this process. The current study addressed some of these limitations. Twenty-six undergraduate students provided stories of their illnesses and were asked to describe what R & S mean to them. Participants also reflected on issues related to meaning-making and the overall effect of illness on their lives. Lastly, participants were asked if R & S played any role in their meaning-making process. Results revealed that participants viewed R & S as multidimensional concepts characterized by beliefs, behaviors, and social connections. The use of social comparison and the Internet represent sample meaning-making categories, and responses such as "there's a reason for everything" suggest that R & S did play a role in participants' illness experiences. Consideration was given to issues of rigor as well as to researcher bias. Limitations, strengths, and implications of these findings are discussed in addition to potential future research directions.

Details
Author

Winford, Eboni

Title

Frameworks for Ascribing Meaning: An Examination of Adolescents' Lived Experiences of Illness

Physical Description

1 online resource (201 pages) : PDF

Date

2013

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The importance of religion and spirituality (R & S) in adults' experiences of illness is well established. Findings range from lower reported levels of distress following diagnoses of illnesses to adults' use of these existential frameworks to understand life events. However, few such studies include adolescents, a group facing a series of normative, but potentially stressful changes. Most quantitative studies of R & S, adolescent health behaviors, and/or psychological well-being do not address R & S in the context of serious physical illnesses, and they do not allow adolescents to describe how meaning-making occurs during times of illness or whether R & S may be involved in this process. The current study addressed some of these limitations. Twenty-six undergraduate students provided stories of their illnesses and were asked to describe what R & S mean to them. Participants also reflected on issues related to meaning-making and the overall effect of illness on their lives. Lastly, participants were asked if R & S played any role in their meaning-making process. Results revealed that participants viewed R & S as multidimensional concepts characterized by beliefs, behaviors, and social connections. The use of social comparison and the Internet represent sample meaning-making categories, and responses such as "there's a reason for everything" suggest that R & S did play a role in participants' illness experiences. Consideration was given to issues of rigor as well as to researcher bias. Limitations, strengths, and implications of these findings are discussed in addition to potential future research directions.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Psychology

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Adolescent
Chronic Illness
Meaning-Making
Religion and Spirituality

Subject Area

Health Psychology

Advisor(s)

Peterman, Amy

Committee Members

Webb, Jennifer
Reeve, Charlie
Tullis, Jillian
Robinson, Joanne

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2013.

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Rights Holder Information

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Identifier

Winford_uncc_0694D_10512

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:142