Reconstructing a Meaningful Self

The Identity Work of People Living With Chronic Disease

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19003455
AutoresLoraine Sonia Clur (University of South Africa), Antoni Barnard (0000-0003-0371-9486, University of South Africa, autor de correspondencia)
Año2024
Volumen35
Número13
Páginas1410-1422
Fecha de publicación2024-12-10
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10497323241303393
PMID39655943
OpenAlexW4405242241
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas66

With the escalating number of people diagnosed with chronic disease globally, research aimed at supporting their adjustment and coping is invaluable. Reconstructing a sense of self is core to the psychosocial adjustment of people with chronic disease (PwCD), and meaning making is central to their coping with the diagnosis. Despite the growing number of PwCD living productive lives, their identity work is underexplored. This article reports on an in-depth multiple case study that explored the identity work of PwCD from a meaning-making perspective. Data were gathered from three cases using semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and diaries. Data analysis entailed interpretative phenomenological analysis and flexible pattern matching. Three themes describe participants' identity work process: First, they narrate a broken identity, having experienced identity disruption, discontinuity, and loss; second, they envision an ideal identity through existential reflection; and third, they reconstruct a meaningful identity. Reconciling the broken self with an ideal self leads to the construction of a meaningful self. The meaningful self is conceptualized in participants' application of Frankl's meaning-making principles, as they constructed a purposeful self (creative), a connected self (experiential), and a determined self (attitudinal). The article discusses the implications for helping professionals and organizations in supporting PwCD as they work toward rebuilding a meaningful self, facilitating their identity work in the search of a meaningful self

Aesthetics · Identity formation · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Psychology of self · Psychosocial · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Self · Self-concept · Social science · Sociology · Management and Organizational Studies · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Occupational Therapy Practice and Research · Psychology · Social Psychology