Spiritual Inquiry and Well-Being in Life-Limiting Illness
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21176266 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Pamela G Reed (0000-0002-2235-4403, Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing), Elaine Rousseau |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 81-98 |
| Publication date | 2007-08-22 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1552-8030 • E-ISSN: 1552-8049 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1300/j496v19n04_06 |
| OpenAlex | W1982681226 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 8 |
Introduction: End of life, as a developmental phase, is accompanied by inner resources as well as losses. Spirituality is a potential inner resource for integrating illness that often occurs during this time. Despite the increase in spirituality research, how spiritual perspectives are used in life-limiting illness remains under-investigated. Better knowledge about this process may be useful for health care providers, family caregivers and patients themselves to enhance well-being at end of life. This study describes the process of how patients and family care-givers use their spiritual resources to facilitate well-being at the end of life. Method: A qualitative study was designed, based upon the grounded theory method, that entails theoretical sampling of concepts (not sampling of people as in quantitative designs), and the analytic technique of constant comparison of the data until conceptual categories are saturated with supporting data and a theory can be identified. The sample consisted of 12 respondents: 6 dyads of elderly patients with a life-limiting illness and family caregivers. Interviews occurred over a 2-year period. Results: Data analysis generated a theory about a process called “transcending life-limiting illness,” which derived from two related themes: spiritual inquiry and end-of-life dimensions. Conclusion: The results expand existing knowledge about how people, either as patients or as family caregivers of persons facing end of life, live with life-limiting illness. The process of transcending life-limiting illness goes beyond merely coping to tap resources for well-being. This resource is expressed through an ongoing dialectic process of spiritual inquiry about life and death as supported by six critical life dimensions
Alternative medicine · Grounded theory · Limiting · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Spirituality · Theoretical sampling · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology
Successful Aging
Religious Struggle as a Predictor of Mortality Among Medically Ill Elderly Patients
A Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model for the Care of Patients at the End of Life
Factors Considered Important at the End of Life by Patients, Family, Physicians, and Other Care Providers
The Discovery of Grounded Theory
Beyond Formal Operations
Living With Death
Meaning and Agency in Discussing End-of-Life Care
| Citations per year | 0.23 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2013 - 2021 (9) |
| Highly cited | No |