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1
Ackroyd, Rebecca. "Fighting to survive in a 'woman's world' : an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of men's experiences of having breast cancer." Thesis, University of Roehampton, 2016. https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/fighting-to-survive-in-a-womans-world-an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis-of-mens-experiences-of-having-breast-cancer(eb48bd1e-1203-4c6a-9dd9-5cc9b9adb878).html.
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This thesis focuses on men’s experiences of having breast cancer using a qualitative methodology to provide insight into the first-hand accounts of the participants. It aims to enhance the limited existing research in this area through the use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), exploring the psychological impact of having an illness commonly associated with women. The phenomenological and interpretative nature of IPA allows an in-depth investigation of men’s perspectives of breast cancer and explores the psychological, emotional and social impact on the participants. Interviews were carried out with six men who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last five years. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were analysed using IPA. Three super-ordinate themes emerged from the analysis, with a further nine sub-themes identified. The discussion focuses on Gender & masculinity in line with the first two superordinate themes, ‘Derailment from my illegitimate illness’ and ‘Being in the shadow of pink’. The third super-ordinate theme, ‘Finding value in suffering’ is discussed in line with research on Meaning-Making and ‘Posttraumatic-growth’. Insight gathered by this study is thought to help understand male breast cancer patients’ unique and specific needs, so better tailored forms of psychological support can be provided. Existential and meaning-centered practices are suggested as feasible alternative approaches to traditional psychological treatments.
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Shah, Rinkle. "Making sense of disability: The role of home and its physical environment." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2015. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/84903/6/Rinkle_Shah_Thesis_Reduced.pdf.
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This research responds to the need for a holistic understanding of the way in which people with disability and their family caregivers make sense of disability in and through their home settings. While of specific value to the spatial design disciplines, the research also enhances our understanding of disability and how its meaning is ecologically negotiated over time and space.
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Zakrzewski, Katherine. "The Phenomenological Experience of Competitive State Anxiety for Female Beach Volleyball Players at the 2012 Olympics." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/32295.
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Anxiety is one of the most studied research topics in sport psychology literature (Guillen & Sanchez, 2009); however, even though the Olympics are considered to be one of the most pressure-filled sporting events (Birrer, Wetzel, Schmidt, & Morgan, 2012), to date there has been no research aimed specifically at investigating Olympic athletes’ competitive state anxiety and its impact on subsequent performance. Furthermore, according to Nesti (2011), in order to support athletes in dealing with their experience of anxiety, researchers must turn towards the phenomenological, real-lived experience of the athlete to uncover what might best support positive anxiety management and interpretation in competition. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to respond to the gap in Olympic athlete anxiety research by examining the phenomenological experience of competitive state anxiety for female beach volleyball players at the 2012 London Olympics. Six in-depth, phenomenological interviews were conducted with these Olympic female beach volleyball players. Results indicated that, while all athletes in this study experienced anxiety at the 2012 Olympics, it was not the reduced intensity of anxiety that positively impacted their performance but rather the athletes’ ability to recognize, manage, and positively interpret their anxiety. In addition, it was shown that self-confidence further buffered the potentially negative impacts of anxiety. It is recommended that future research focus on extending phenomenological anxiety research to other sports and genders, and to specifically examine the impact of trait anxiety, team dynamics, and the experience of flow on athletes’ anxiety interpretation.
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Mathews, Kate. "Exploring pupils' experiences of a transition project using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)." Thesis, University of East London, 2012. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/1871/.
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In the UK children make the transition from primary to secondary school when they are 11 years old. The majority of pupils adjust well to their new secondary school. However, there is a minority of vulnerable pupils for whom transition is a challenging time. These children are more likely to experience negative educational outcomes during their first year in secondary school (Year 7). Therefore it is of the upmost importance to support these vulnerable children through transition. The experiences of six vulnerable Year 7 pupils were explored in this research. The pupils’ experiences of transition and of a Transition Project they had previously participated in whilst in their final year of primary school (Year 6) were examined. The data was collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The research adopted an interpretative phenomenological perspective to explore the participants’ experiences. The data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings of this research stress the importance of listening to children’s views. The main themes that emerged from the data included, ‘Struggling to Cope’, ‘The Importance of Friendship’, ‘Feeling out of Control’ and ‘Feeling Ready for Secondary School’. A rich description of the pupils’ experiences of transition and of a Transition Project is presented. This research has demonstrated that interviewing vulnerable children can yield rich and valuable data. It has also highlighted that children wish to have their views listened to and want to participate in research.
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Jacobs, Emma Anne. "Living with manic experiences : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/4541.
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Although psychological research into manic experiences is increasing, it remains an underresearched phenomenon. In particular, there is a dearth of qualitative research exploring these experiences in a clinical sample of people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. This study examined six participants’ experiences of mania using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Through semi-structured interviews, the participants provided detailed accounts of how they made sense of and experienced their manic states. Three master themes were described: “A mixed relationship with mania,” “A separate and controlled self”, and “The struggle to be different.” The first master theme explored the participants’ mixed and ambivalent relationship with their manic experiences. These were viewed as both alluring and dangerous, but overall the perceived costs had outweighed the benefits, for all but one of the participants. Most participants described losses in relation to giving up their manic experiences, as well as losses related to the destructive consequences of their episodes. The second master theme examined perceptions of mania as a separate, uncontrollable phenomenon, over which they had little influence. It was hypothesised that these explanations served to relieve these participants from underlying negative emotions, such as guilt, regret, shame and selfstigma. The third master theme described how manic experiences had represented struggles to be different. These included a struggle against society; a struggle to experience a preferred self; and a struggle to access very unique experiences or abilities. A number of issues were discussed in relation to the above themes. These included positive and conflicting appraisals of high moods; loss; entrapment and helplessness; ambivalence; negative moral emotions and a preferred manic identity. A range of therapeutic approaches were suggested as potentially helpful for some of these issues. These included Motivational Interviewing, Narrative, Constructivist and Compassion therapies. Additionally, the findings of the study provided support for existing therapies for Bipolar Disorder; particularly Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal & Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT).
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DuBose-Morris, Ragan A. "An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Telehealth Champions." NSUWorks, 2014. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/140.
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The implementation of telehealth applications is resource intensive and fraught with challenges unique to the people and places involved. The use of telehealth to provide clinical care to patients, educate patients and providers, and conduct research studies to advance medical science has been shown to positively affect issues of access and the quality of care. Previous research has focused on the use of specific technologies, known barriers to adoption and diffusion, and the general efficacy of these applications. Few studies have researched the role champions play in the deployment and operation of telehealth networks. The researcher proposed conducting an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of clinicians, educators and technical professionals within a successful telehealth network to determine the lived experiences that identify them as champions in the field.
Three research questions were studied: 1) What do telehealth champions believe to be the human elements necessary to advance telehealth systems?; 2) How do these telehealth champions explain their empowerment during the creation and use of telehealth networks?; and 3) How do these champions use shared processes and experiences to help spur engagement? Semi-structured interviews with 16 champions from the three disciplines were conducted to explore their lived experiences as part of a telehealth network. Seven champion themes - modern pioneers; champion teams; agents of change; knowledge brokers; supported by management; advocates, not champions; and well-prepared visionaries - emerged from the iterative review and analysis of data. Findings suggest that telehealth champions are not born but instead created. They are modern pioneers who function as part of innovative telehealth teams. Champions also serve as agents of change who utilize their knowledge of disruptive technologies to advocate for improvement in established healthcare systems. They are problem solvers who serve as resources for their colleagues, organizations and collaborative networks. Telehealth champions channel the universal goals of improving patient care and expanding healthcare access to overcome adoption barriers. Applying the ideals of what it means to be champions and how they overcome barriers to new telehealth applications could prove to be very beneficial for those tasked with developing new networks.
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Hassim, Junaid. "Becoming and being a lay volunteer counsellor : an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26469.
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This study embarked on exploring the experience of becoming and being a lay volunteer counsellor from a psychological perspective. Six participants were interviewed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the research method. Race and gender are divided equally amongst Black, Caucasian, male, and female participants. Numerous dimensions relating to the lived experience of lay volunteer counsellors are investigated in the present literature, suggesting that the experience of becoming and being a lay volunteer counsellor is multifaceted. The subjective experience of each of the participants was explored, with the optimism that this exploration would expound on the multilateralism of these facets. Although specific experiences remain exclusive to each participant, the intersecting and co-creation of meanings culminated in the cultivation of themes common to the participants. These themes are examined against the literature, critically appraising supportive and distinct suggestions. As is evident from the results, participants have a profound appreciation of the stimuli which influence their experiences of lay volunteer counselling, but also of the circumstances surrounding the origins of their sense of volunteerism. Even though some of the literature addressed themes relevant to the participants’ experiences, a small number of themes could not be juxtaposed against available literature. Based on the narratives of the participants, as well as data in the literature, volunteers constitute a reasonable component of the service sector and assist a sizeable population. Therefore, the value of the lay volunteer counselling population should be recognised in order to develop further training and support programmes for this subpopulation. As it appears, recognising the essence of this value begins with appreciating the experience of becoming and being a lay volunteer counsellor. CopyrightDissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2009.
Psychology
unrestricted
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Ismail, Amelia. "Understanding work-life interface of Malay Muslim women academics : an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2018. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/38920/.
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Women academics in collectivist societies, despite their significant numbers, have been of little concern to researchers. While women’s involvement in education and employment opportunities has increased and their economic positions have improved, their role pertaining to domestic responsibilities and care for the family in such societies remains the same. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research is to describe the work-life interface as experienced by Malay Muslim women academics. This study also identifies the work environment factors that assist and/or hinder these academics in managing their work-life responsibilities as well as investigating the influence of culture and religion. Diary entries and in-depth telephone interviews with seven Malay Muslim women academics were employed to capture the essence of their daily work-life experiences. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis as the research method, the findings of the study are presented under four themes: juggling multiple roles, sources of supports, impact of leadership style, and identity formation. The participants in this research provided valuable insights based on their many years of experience as academics in higher education institutions besides their roles as mothers and wives. The Malay Muslim women academics’ work-life experiences appear to be complex and multifaceted. Negotiating between professional and personal roles has an impact on the careers of women academics, their personal and family lives, and their well-being. In managing their daily work-life responsibilities, an interplay exists between Islamic values and Malay traditional customs. The customary practices which are important in the functioning of the society as a whole contribute in shaping their identity as women, family members and academics. In addition, leadership style can have a significant impact on their work-life management. For these women, the lived reality is that being an academic means having never-ending tasks that sometimes require personal sacrifices which are achieved through the support of family and work colleagues as well as their personal belief systems.
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Jury, Rebecca. "Men waiting for heart transplant : an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and clinical research portfolio." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2018. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/30817/.
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Background: Heart transplant candidates may wait a considerable and usually indeterminable length of time for a donor heart, uncertain if they will live or die. Despite this, there appears to be little research exploring how people experience this wait. Method: A qualitative design employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Male patients (n=7) on the routine waiting list for a heart transplant at an advanced heart failure service in Scotland participated in a semi-structured in-depth interview. Results: Three major themes, each with inter-related sub-themes were produced from the data. 1) ‘Threatened self identity’: this theme covered the challenge posed to the mens’ identities as a consequence of illness and their wait for transplant. This included a ‘diminished self’ and an ‘unwanted ill self’. 2) ‘Uncertain life or death’: this theme concerned the continuing uncertainty men had to live and cope with, and included ‘contemplating dying’ and ‘the unknowns of transplant’. 3) ‘Complex coping’: this theme covered the challenges of coping during the emotionally and physically challenging wait for transplant. Conclusions: The importance of finding meaning in waiting is discussed in relation to the revised transactional model of stress and coping, and the implications for health care professionals are discussed. There is a need for health care professionals to appreciate the individual meaning patients ascribe to their experiences.
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Turton, W. "Living with psychosis as a longer-term health condition : an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2015. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/379621/.
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This thesis details a phenomenological research study into the lived experience of living with psychosis as a longer‐term health condition in Southern England between 2012 and 2013. Ten people living with psychosis and supported by NHS Community Adult Mental Health Services participated in in‐depth interviews about their lived experience, which were analysed through the application of IPA. Five super‐ordinate themes emerged: The Awfulness, Psychosis as a Volitional ‘Other’, What is Real?, The Distressing Tyranny of Voices, and Liberation. The degree of experiential convergence within themes was high and determined by the level of explicitly or implicitly expressed separation from the psychosis. The study reveals an underestimated on‐going awfulness, specifically compounded by voice hearing. A heightened sense of vulnerability and threat is experienced and a loss of confidence in being able to keep the ‘self’ safe from the psychosis, which is perceived as a malevolent ‘other’. This is accompanied by a loss of confidence about what is real and what is not. Subjective realities suggest strongly that recovery‐supporting ‘liberating’ interventions need to go beyond anti‐psychotic medication. Findings resonate with the extant phenomenological literature and reawaken the debate about reconceptualising longer‐term psychosis as a trauma response to extraordinary and self‐ altering experiences. The thesis highlights that phenomenological research findings into the lived experience of living with psychosis as a longer –term health condition show a congruency and appear robustly salient with the subjective realities of living with psychosis yet remain underrepresented in informing both people who are living with psychosis and mental health practice. The discussion focuses on the relevance of findings for clinical practice with people living with psychosis and on issues of using phenomenological methodologies such as IPA to explore the lived experience of psychosis.
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Wadey, Karen Mary. "Young carers' experiences of caring in an Inner London borough : an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)." Thesis, University of East London, 2015. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/4776/.
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Young Carers are children and young people (CYP) between the age of 5-18years who provide care for a family member who has an illness or disability. The prevalence of Young Carers (YCs) in the UK is high and rising rapidly; the most recent census in England and Wales (2011) highlighted 177,918 YCs known to services, and an increase of almost 19% between 2001 and 2011. Local authorities have a legal responsibility to identify, assess and support YCs in their role. Most research in this area has focused on the vulnerabilities and risk factors of YCs. This current research, using IPA, has set out to have a bottom-up exploration of the experiences of YCs, placing the CYPs’ views at the centre of the study and looking at the meaning they make of the role as well as the support that they receive. The study took a positive psychological perspective by being open to the positive and the negative impact of the caring experience. A sample of 8 YCs (4 female and 4 male) ranging from the age of 11 to 18 years took part in individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited from a multi-cultural inner London local authority YCs’ project. The YCs cared for either parents, grandparents or siblings. The findings of this study concurred with previous research, highlighting that YCs endure physical and psychological hardship; but this study demonstrated that they also identify benefits of the caregiving role and some YCs have adapted various ways to manage the impact of caring. The study also finds that YCs value support such as the YCs’ group, but many expressed the need for more individual support, especially for the younger YCs. The author outlines the implications of the findings for Educational Psychologists, referring to various skills of assessment and intervention which they could implement to identify and support YCs so that their wellbeing is promoted. The author suggests further longitudinal mixed methods research to explore the potential of this suggestion.
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Shams, Shirin. "University Counsellors' experiences of working with students who procrastinate : an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis." Thesis, University of Roehampton, 2017. https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/university-counsellors’-experiences-of-working-with-students-who-procrastinate(f6cac1b9-9706-42c7-96dd-14ed250084e6).html.
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Procrastination as problematic delay is a widely occurring phenomenon in modern society. It is particularly prevalent in academic settings where some students avoid or postpone their work in numerous ways. Over the last three decades, a substantial body of quantitative and some qualitative studies have been conducted, however, to date researchers are still unclear about what causes this problem and how it can be effectively helped. Working with procrastination is therefore considered an important issue for counselling psychologists, many of whom work in university student counselling services. The aim of this research was to conduct an inductive qualitative study to explore how university counsellors understand and work with students who present for help with procrastination. Ten volunteer participants were interviewed who mainly identified themselves as working integratively. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted and the results produced four master themes that highlighted firstly general challenges of working with students who procrastinate in university settings. Secondly, three distinct styles of procrastination were identified from these participants’ accounts as “de-skilled”, “anxious/fearful” and “conflictual”. These indicated a need for tailored therapeutic approaches that seemed to be enabled by an integrative therapeutic stance. Overall, it may be concluded that procrastination as a presenting problem in academia is a heterogeneous phenomenon that requires adaptable therapeutic approaches for individual students’ styles in relation to studying autonomously.
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Blore, David Charles. "An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) investigation of positive psychological change (PPC), including post traumatic growth (PTG)." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2012. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/3328/.
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Positive Psychological Change (PPC) following trauma is a developing field for which there is no standard terminology. The plethora of labels, of which Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) is probably the most common descriptor, arguably masks a significant gap in clinical and theoretical understanding of the phenomenon. One specific gap addressed by this study is PPC following psychological trauma stemming from a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) in which the person involved has subsequently received Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR). To investigate this gap in knowledge, an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was used and twelve participants recruited via a snowball sampling method. The participants were then interviewed using a Semi-structured Interview Questionnaire (SSIQ) and the interviews were then transcribed for IPA analysis. Key themes that emerged included Navigational Struggle (NS) to describe Negative Psychological Change (NPC), and Network Growth (NG), to describe PPC. At any one post-RTA/EMDR point there was a preponderance of one over the other, however, NS and NG were inseparable and found to co-exist along an NS-NG continuum. In addition, Figurative Language Use (FLU) had a significant role in both NS and NG yet was independent of both and apparently driving change towards the development of NG. Whilst NS and NG were both post-trauma phenomena, FLU seemed to hallmark expansion of memory networks as part of a general maturation process post-RTA. Furthermore, there was evidence that participants were incorporating their traumatic experiences via FLU into the rebuilding of their assumptive worlds. To account for these findings, an extension to Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) – the theory widely accepted to underpin EMDR - is proposed based upon a hypothesised Plasticity of Meaning (PoM), which is observable through FLU. PoM predicts which, why and how memory networks connect resulting in the adaptive processing predicted by AIP. The study’s findings are re-examined in terms of consequential modifications to the clinical use of EMDR. Extensive suggestions for further research are provided.
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Foster, Emily. "Adolescents' experience of 'adjustment' to life with diabetes : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/4519.
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Aim: A wealth of quantitative literature exists exploring the adjustment of children and young people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. However, results are often confusing and contradictory, at least partly due to studies using different definitions and measures. Studies have been criticised for over relying on parental reports and failing to consider young people’s own perceptions. Furthermore, they have often conceptualised adjustment as an outcome, rather than exploring the process involved. Additionally, although peers are considered to play an important role in young people’s lives, their role in young people’s adjustment to living with diabetes has rarely been examined. To address this gap, this study attempted to gain a rich understanding of young people’s experiences of adjusting to life with diabetes and explore how they feel their peers have contributed to this process, with the hope of informing clinical practice and improving support to young people and their families. Method: A qualitative approach was chosen and six young females aged 12 – 15 with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Results: Five main themes emerged from participants’ accounts: Developing a balanced relationship with diabetes; the uncomfortable position of difference; grappling with the fall out of diabetes; making diabetes more bearable; and the role of parents and friends. The findings are discussed in relation to the relevant literature. Clinical implications, methodological limitations and directions for future research are presented. Conclusions: This study provided an insight into the complex and dynamic process of young people’s adjustment to life with Type 1 diabetes. It highlighted the challenges and struggles they faced as a result of their diagnosis and the different strategies they employed to manage these. It also emphasised the valuable role both parents and friends provide in supporting young people with their illness.
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Berry, Christopher. "Subjective experiences of psychosis : investigating the psychological impact of first-episode psychosis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.419375.
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Snelgrove, Sherrill. "A longitudinal investigation into patients' experiences of chronic low back pain (CLBP) using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)." Thesis, Swansea University, 2010. https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42594.
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Background/aim: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a variant of chronic pain and an overarching term for a diverse number of painful and benign conditions of the lower spine. Research has shown that CLBP challenges biomedical explanation and treatments and incurs passive coping strategies. Despite the enduring nature of CLBP there are few longitudinal studies. The aim of this investigation was to gain understandings of any consistencies and changes in the experiences of participants' experiences of living with CLBP. Design: A qualitative, longitudinal IP A research project that explored participants' pain experiences over two years (2005-2007). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of ten participants recruited from the waiting list of a chronic pain clinic. Each participant was interviewed prior to attendance and twice after treatment. The data were recorded and transcribed accounts were analysed using IPA. Results: The participants foreground the physicality of the pain. Further interpretive work showed that whilst participants emphasised the physicality of their condition they experienced embodied, multidimensional experiences characterised by loss. Most participants' continued to manage their pain within a biomedical model of understanding and behavioural focused coping strategies. In comparison, participants who experienced a period of painlessness due to medical interventions demonstrated a reappraisal of their situation and a trend towards adopting a wider, biopsychosocial understanding accompanied by changing coping strategies. Conclusion: The accounts revealed the relationship between the participants' painful body and self concept. For some participants, a respite from pain paralleled increasing psychosocial coping strategies and a future orientation that reflected changes in illness beliefs in the absence of a formal psychological intervention. In comparison, remaining participants continued to demonstrate a narrow repertoire of coping and loss orientation. Participants' responses to CLBP resonated with the grieving processes of bereaved individuals. Clinical implications are discussed with recommendations for future research.
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Nunn, Amanda Louise. "Eating disorder and the experience of self : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/4513.
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Aims: Quantitative research and clinical observations have long supported a link between the eating disorders and disturbances of self / identity. However, less is known about the process of how this comes about, and little qualitative research has been conducted in the area. The current study therefore aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of self and eating disorder, using a qualitative approach. The study focused upon the experiences of women, in order to keep the sample homogenous, and sought to explore the following: How women with an eating disorder view and describe themselves; their thoughts and experiences concerning why they view themselves this way; and their thoughts and experiences regarding whether they think there is a link between their view of themselves and their eating disorder. Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with four women who had been diagnosed with, and were undergoing treatment for, an eating disorder. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: The analysis produced four master themes. These were, "I'm always questioning, who am I?": 'Experiencing a fragile sense of self'; 'The influences of others on self perception'; "Just made me feel better about myself": 'Strategies employed to manage the sense of self'; and "I can't rise above my childhood": 'The enduring influence of early experiences on self'. A description of these master themes and the related subordinate themes is presented. Conclusion: The results of the analysis are considered in light of existing theory and their clinical implications.
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Wilde, David John. "Finding meaning in out-of-body experiences : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2012. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/finding-meaning-in-outofbody-experiences-an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis(f7eb8e48-093c-4e55-a917-8103fdd781fd).html.
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History is replete with reports of anomalous experiences. The out-of-body experience (OBE), where the person's self and body are phenomenologically separate, is a relatively common anomalous experience, and has been a topic of scientific psychological research for over a century. OBEs have been reported to occur under a multiplicity of circumstances, however, research has mostly concentrated on OBEs occurring spontaneously, or arising under life-threatening scenarios. Much of this research has focused on either confirming the authenticity of the OBE or determining the underlying processes by which these phenomena may manifest themselves. This research agenda has been largely nomothetic in nature. Yet, traditionally, there exists a third strand of exploration - phenomenological research - which in recent times has been somewhat overlooked in this field of work. In an attempt to redress this shortcoming, I argue for the use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as a method of qualitative investigation to address important fundamental research questions posed by the study of OBEs. The aim of this programme of work was to therefore to investigate the lived experience of having an OBE as it occurred in five different circumstances of occurrence, viz., during or near the point of sleep, during meditation, while consuming alcohol or drugs, while feeling physically or psychologically threatened, and as part of a near-death experience. A rationale for including these circumstances and discounting others is provided. To achieve this aim, five studies were conducted. Fifteen participants - three per study - were recruited to take part in recorded, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. An IPA of the data identified four main clusters of themes across the five studies. One cluster concerned the potential for the OBE to be viewed as an adaptive experience; occurring at times of personal significance and helping individuals cope with difficult life events. A second cluster highlighted the benefits and challenges that experients encountered when sharing their OBEs with other people as part of their sense-making endeavours. A third cluster of themes centred on the embodied nature of the OBE and the attributions and beliefs experients had about the perceived control and mastery they had over their OBEs. Also identified in this theme was the transactive nature of the out-of-body environments themselves, which were seen as meaningful places that facilitated experients' embodied, goal-oriented behaviours. The fourth cluster focused on the abundance of rarely discussed OBE features and the corresponding attribution experients made of some kind of meaning to certain features, many of which were bound to previously held desires and beliefs, and tied in closely with their future anticipations and expectations. The theoretical implications for all of these findings are discussed. By examining in-depth the experience and meaning of these critical life events, IPA research findings can better furnish psychologists and health care professionals with information to further appreciate and understand their clients' OBEs. In turn this may help professionals deal with any potential personality transformations or psycho-spiritual crises that may arise in the wake of an OBE occurrence.
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Heer, Kuljit. "The experiences of older Black African women living with HIV in the UK : an IPA study." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/17464.
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Due to the improved availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) life expectancy amongst people living with HIV has drastically increased. Older people, aged 50 and over now make up the fastest growing group of individuals living with HIV in the UK. Despite this little is known about their experiences of ageing with HIV. In addition, further still is known about older Black African women living with HIV in the UK, despite the complexity of their social and political context. This was, therefore, the first study to explore the lived experiences of this underrepresented group of women. The thesis adopted a phenomenological approach to examining how the intersections of older black African women's identities shaped their experiences of living with HIV in the UK. In addition, it explored the ways in which they coped with the devastating impact HIV appeared to have on their lives. Using interviews with seven women and interpretative phenomenological analysis, the results revealed three master themes. These were 'Spoilt Identities', 'A present without light and a future without hope' and 'Escaping the labyrinth of distress and uncertainty'. A detailed account of these master themes is provided. The findings are discussed in relation to existing literature, implications for clinical practice, methodological limitations and suggestions for future research.
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Gilkinson, Laura. "An interpretative phenomenological analysis of refugees' experiences of psychological therapy for trauma." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/4470.
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Background: Guidelines for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder recommend 8-12 session of trauma-focused CBT or EMDR, however there is an extensive body of literature criticising the PTSD paradigm and usefulness of recommended therapies in treating PTSD in the 'real world', particularly with the complex presentations of refugees . Alternative models for 'complex' PTSD have been proposed, as have transtheoretical phased stages for treatment. To date there has been no research into refugees' experience of trauma-therapy. Leaving a significant gap in understanding of how trauma therapy works. Aims: With this gap in the research in mind, and in line with the current focus on service user involvement in research, this study aims to investigate refugees' experiences of trauma-therapy. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six refugees who were coming towards the end of trauma-therapy with a specialist trauma service. The transcripts of the interviews were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Six master themes emerged from analysis: 'Therapy as a light in a dark place', 'Rebuilding a shattered sense of self', 'A changing relationship with the world and others', 'Escaping the past to pursue a future', 'A journey from sceptic to convert' and 'From an unknown mystery to a known mystery'. These master themes along with the subordinate themes are expanded into a narrative account of participants' experiences. Implications & Conclusion: Amongst numerous implications for clinical practice the need for support to engage in therapy, thorough explanation of therapy and pre-empting of possible conflicts and difficulties arising were identified. Allowing time to build a therapeutic relationship, the usefulness of the PTSD construct for individuals and the importance of the 'non-specific' factors of therapy in addition to the teaching of techniques to manage symptoms were also found to be of importance. This study has made an important contribution to knowledge about refugees' experiences of therapy for trauma.
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Folland, Caroline H. "Working with psychological trauma : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of trauma-focused CBT and EMDR." Thesis, University of Derby, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10545/621586.
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Purpose: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acknowledged repeated or extreme indirect exposure to aversive details of traumatic event(s) in the course of professional duties, can lead to symptoms of PTSD. This has led to discussions around impact and prevalence of vicarious trauma in psychological therapists treating trauma clients. This study considers how therapists delivering trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) make sense of their experiences and protect themselves from any negative effects of the work. Furthermore, it considers if there is a distinction in therapist experience between the two modalities. Methodology/Method: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was conducted to explore how trauma-focused CBT and EMDR therapists engaged in trauma work, interpreted and made sense of their experiences; with a view to identifying any protective practice that informed clinical practice and helped ameliorate vicarious trauma. Recorded, semi-structured interviews were conducted with CBT and EMDR therapists (N=11). Before analysis, interviews were transcribed verbatim and sent to individual participants for validation of their authenticity. Data was analysed using descriptive, linguistic and conceptual comments to identify an initial seventy nine emergent themes. When refined, four master themes of ‘Nature of Trauma’, ‘Participant sense of self and managing the process of hearing trauma narrative’, ‘Participant experience of delivering the trauma models’ and ‘Protecting and sustaining the participant sense of self’ were identified to answer the research question and are discussed herein. Findings: This study forms part of the growing body of evidence towards understanding therapist vicarious traumatisation. It both supports and challenges findings of previous studies. It also introduces new concepts in relation to the vicarious trauma phenomenon. Whilst there are clear limitations associated with making generalisations from an IPA study, the findings from the study suggest EMDR may be a protective factor against the negative effects of hearing repeated trauma narrative. Furthermore, certain strategies such as time management, comprehensive trauma training and specific trauma supervision, may also reduce the negative effects of hearing trauma narrative. Finally, regardless of the difficulties faced, therapists enjoy their trauma work and feel a great sense of professional satisfaction. Implications/Recommendations: Indications from the findings of the study are that therapists working within primary care in particular, are becoming increasingly pressurised by cuts to funding within mental health services. Recommendations are that those components of trauma work which promote therapist wellbeing should be supported. In particular, realistic timeframes within which to work, good quality training and supervisors, ideally external to the workplace, who can provide trauma-specific supervision.
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Clarke, Kerry Rose. "Parents' experiences of being abused by their adolescent children : an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study of Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Abuse." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/17092.
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Background: Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Abuse (APVA) continues to be one of the most hidden forms of family-abuse, remaining unrecognised at a policy level and under-researched at a theoretical level, especially in the United Kingdom. Although research has started to emerge, much of this has focussed on mapping the nature and extent of the phenomena with limited attention given to parents' lived experiences of parenting in the context of the adolescent child-to-parent abuse dynamic, which this study attempts to address. Given the complexities of accessing parent-victims of APVA, qualitative researchers have employed somewhat innovative methods, though Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as used within the present study has been relatively overlooked having not been previously used in the UK, highlighting the need for additional research from wider perspectives into the area. Aim: With this in mind, the current study aimed to explore the lived experience of parents who describe being violently and/or abused by their adolescent child to gather a richer understanding of how adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse impacts upon the parenting experience. Method: This research employed a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with 6 parents (5 mothers and 1 father); the majority of whom were in their early to late 40's. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to develop a rich and multi-layered account of participants' experiences. Results: The analysis produced four superordinate themes. These were: 'Not knowing and the search for answers': Needing to understand, "I love him but I don't like him": Facing and avoiding complex emotions, "Like playing chess with the grand master": Parenting amidst abuse and "I won't be defined by fear": Temporality and seeking change. The superordinate themes and corresponding subordinate themes are discussed in relation to the relevant literature. Clinical implications, methodological considerations and directions for future research are also presented. Implications: This research provided insight into the lived experience of being a parent within an APVA dynamic. The research highlighted the challenges faced by parents as they maintain parental responsibility for a child who is perceptibly abusing them and the ways that the current systems and absence of policy serve to maintain this dynamic. It also emphasised the importance of how parents seek to identify causation as a way of negating parental blame and the associated experience of shame which emerged as underpinning wider complex emotions, particularly fear. It also highlighted the need for timely and specific guidance, support and interventions to parents who experience this unique yet increasingly reported form of family-abuse from a Clinical Psychology and wider professional perspective.
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Cassidy, Elizabeth Emma. "An exploration of the lived experience of progressive cerebellar ataxia : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, Brunel University, 2012. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7547.
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Background and Purpose: Progressive cerebellar ataxia is a rare neurological condition characterised by uncoordinated movement, and impaired speech articulation. Rehabilitation and physiotherapy in particular, form the cornerstone of healthcare intervention. Little qualitative research has been undertaken to understand the subjective experience of this complex condition. This study explored the experience of progressive cerebellar ataxia, physiotherapy and physiotherapy services from the perspective of people living with this condition. Method: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis underpinned this inductive qualitative enquiry. Twelve people with a progressive cerebellar ataxia participated in semi-structured interviews. All participants had some experience of physiotherapy. Interviews were transcribed. A case by case idiographic analysis was undertaken followed by a cross case analysis. Findings: Five super-ordinate themes were identified. ‘The embodied experience of progressive cerebellar ataxia’ emphasised the foregrounding of the body, and the disruption of the skilful interaction between body and world. ‘Identity, stigma and disrupted embodiment in public spaces and places’ encapsulated how participants made sense of actual and perceived stigma and discrimination. ‘Lifeworld meets biomedicine: a complex juxtaposition’ described participants’ problematic relationships with healthcare practitioners and their disease-centric world. ‘Wresting control in the face of uncertain and changing forces’ portrayed participants’ attempts to understand and reinterpret their condition on their own terms. ‘Exercise: a multifaceted contributor to managing life with ataxia’ captured the meaning of exercise and physical activity. One over-arching theme, ‘Retaining a homelike way of being-in-the-world’, cautiously indicated that whilst participants described ‘unhomelike’ lifeworlds (uncomfortable and disturbing); they simultaneously held onto, and sometimes realised, the possibility of ‘homecoming’, for example through the generation of new modes of belonging. Conclusion: This study provided a detailed, phenomenological account of the lived experience of progressive cerebellar ataxia. New insights were developed that have the capacity to inform not only physiotherapy practice but also other healthcare disciplines. New avenues for future research were also identified.
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Odusanya, Shamarel Olubunmi Elizabeth. "The experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists : an interpretative phenomenological and repertory grid analysis." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/17471.
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Aim: Knowledge of the experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists in clinical practice is currently lacking in the research literature. The aim of the current study was to explore the lived experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists currently employed in the National Health Service (NHS). By investigating this under-researched topic, the study hopes to shed light on the impact on clinicians' personal and professional identity of practicing within a profession that lacks cultural diversity. It is hoped that the results of this study will contribute to ongoing efforts to diversify the profession, improve our knowledge of the experience of BME groups in the helping profession and also challenge current misconceptions concerning the BME experience. Method: A mixed method qualitative approach was employed for this study. Repertory grids and semi-structured interviews were conducted with six female qualified BME clinical psychologists who are currently working in the NHS. They had been qualified between three and sixteen years. Their repertory grids were analysed using Idiogrid and their accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Four master themes emerged from the analysis and were supported by the findings from the repertory grids showing that BME clinical psychologists feel that they stand out as different on account of their ethnic difference. The analytic procedure also highlighted how participants have to find a way to negotiate their cultural and professional values whilst also sitting with the uncertainty of their experiences in the profession. The final theme relates to the privilege that participants held in making it as a clinical psychologist. Implications: Initiatives to increase cultural competency and sensitivity need to be addressed by the profession. Efforts to increase ethnic diversity should be followed through to ensure practitioners are not left on the fringes of the profession on account of their minority ethnicity.
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Coaley, Tanya Elisabeth. "Personal experiences in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, Bangor University, 2001. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/personal-experiences-in-the-early-to-moderate-stages-of-alzheimers-disease--an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis(03a206b1-e29d-460b-b6a7-62bac66b55f0).html.
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Previous research has focused on measuring awareness in dementia with few attempts to define or clarify this concept, nor explore its meaning to the individual. The present study is preceded by a review of the concepts of insight and awareness, and the different approaches to understanding these drawn from the psychological, neurological and psychiatric literatures. The strengths and limitations of the different and models are discussed and the case for further research in this area is presented. This is followed by a research study that explores the experiences of seven people in the early to moderate stages of dementia. Interpretative phenomenological analysis illuminates some of the psychological factors that contribute to awareness and how these factors impact upon selfconcept. It is suggested that clinicians and services need to pay greater attention to the phenomenological experiences of individuals with dementia. Four superordinate themes emerged which were labelled 1. Relationship with memory 2. Relationship with professionals 3. Emotional experience of memory loss 4. Coping and maximising resources. Each category compares and contrasts individual experiences and suggests that insight may be a complex concept that would be better understood by taking into account the psychological processes that contribute to individual awareness, and their subsequent impact on self-concept. The research paper is followed by a critical review that outlines the strengths and weaknesses of this study, as well as the process issues that arose during the course of the research and the clinical implications.
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Whiteley, Anna. "Understanding and experiencing ageing : the perspectives of older people with intellectual disabilities." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/25491.
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Background: This thesis contains two elements: the first is a systematic review examining some of the determinants of quality of life for people with intellectual disability. Understanding these determinants can drive improvement at both individual and societal level. Yet there are a number of quality of life measures which might confound findings between studies. This systematic review sought to identify factors that influence quality of life using self-report on one measure developed for use with people with intellectual disability, the ‘Quality of Life Questionnaire’ (Schalock & Keith 1993). The second element is an empirical study that aims to explore the lived experience of aging for older adults with intellectual disability. There are noted differences between people with and without disability as they grow older, for example in terms of health and social opportunity. Previous studies have not consistently sought the experience of the people with intellectual disability themselves, or have used participants not traditionally considered older adults. This study aims to address gaps and further our knowledge in the lived experience of getting older for older adults with intellectual disability. Method: Within the systematic review a systematic search of relevant studies to 20th January 2015 was completed using a specified inclusion criteria, yielding 13 peerreviewed journal articles. These were scored on 11-point purpose-designed quality criteria. For the empirical study semi-structured interviews were completed with ten participants with intellectual disability (age range 60 – 74 years, five female) regarding their understanding of getting older and their experience of ageing. Nine transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The systematic review found that living in a semi-independent environment or an urban setting, being employed, being involved in domestic and community activities, receiving social support and possessing social skills and self-determination were factors that improved quality of life for people with intellectual disability. Three major themes emerged from the empirical study data when participants discussed getting older: ‘Not changed by ageing’, ‘Thinking about the ageing process’ and ‘What happens when getting older’. Participants tended to feel that they were still the same due to continuation of the same activities and social support. They demonstrated confusion in the ageing process, considering the process ‘inevitable’ but insignificant, although also recognising some changes associated with the process. They discussed their views about what they considered happens when people get older, which tended to be stereotypical and often negative. However they also reflected on their own experiences and how they had changed. Discussion: The methodological quality of the studies reviewed was found to be generally low due to a range of factors including study design, measurement of intellectual disability and reporting of sample demographics and results and therefore conclusions should be treated with caution. This highlights a need for further research with people with intellectual disability of a higher methodological quality. The empirical study is discussed in reference to previous research and gerontological theories of ageing. The study highlighted that staff or family did not broadly discuss ageing with participants and their views often changed over the course of the interviews from more physical and negative aspects to how ageing impacted them. This research demonstrated older adults with intellectual disability do have opinions on ageing. Further exploration with people with intellectual disability on this topic is to be encouraged in the future to develop a more balanced view.
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Parnell, Anthony Peter. "An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Therapists' perspectives of predisposing factors of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2014. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis-of-therapists-perspectives-of-predisposing-factors-of-post-traumatic-stress-disorder(0a6df02a-c765-4d86-8cec-8050c6da5ad4).html.
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Background: The aim of this study was to explore the experience and sense making oftherapists working with clients who present with a PTSD diagnosis. The study engaged with therapists experience and understanding of predisposing factors to PTSD and how they incorporate this understanding into the therapy process. Further to this the experience of the therapists understanding of the influence of predisposing factors on the expression of PTSD was explored. Literature Review: A literature review is presented identifying core research relating to PTSD, predisposing factors to the development of PTSD and the treatments used when working with PTSD as a presenting issue. Methodology: To address the aims of the study 9 therapist participants were interviewed. Semi-structured, one to one, in-depth interviews were utilised to elicit participant’s experience of the issues outlined within the aims. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to identify re-current themes across the interviews and analyse the data, which emerged. Findings: The main findings present thirteen sub-ordinate themes that reflect the essence of the participant’s experience of the phenomenon under investigation. These were based around eight Super-ordinate (master) themes of Previous history, Therapy relationship, Psychoeducation and Normalisation, Identity, Culture, Attachment, Presenting Therapy Themes, and Support Systems. Discussion and Conclusion: The study identified the participant’s experience of predisposing factors on the expression of PTSD. There was consensus from the participant’s in relation to the significant impact of client’s previous life experience on their expression of PTSD. The participants further identified that the client’s previous life experience influenced their formulation and treatment of PTSD. Significant issues that were described by all of the participants regardless of their theoretical or therapeutic perspective were (1) the central importance of the therapeutic relationship, (without a strong, trusting and safe relationship the participants would not engage the therapy work), (2) the importance of in-depth history taking (identification of previous life experience and its impact on the current response to the trauma), (3) the impact of previous trauma(s), and (4) the impact of support systems, environment and identity. These issues are discussed alongside the existing literature around this topic. Additionally, suggestions for future directions of research and recommendations for practice are presented.
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Pringle, Jan. "Revisioning, reconnecting and revisiting : facing the aftershock of stroke in the first month post-discharge : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Dundee, 2011. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/5c81ee01-9f45-4597-8c60-11b0ec3d0280.
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Uprichard, S. "Experiences of the process of adjustment to a brain injury : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/4521.
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Aims: Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is often researched from a reductionist perspective, focusing on pathology and dysfunction (Olney & Kim, 2001). More recently there has been a call towards taking a person-centred, global approach; questioning old ‘assumptions’ about what is currently known, and incorporating the views of the patient (Hill, 1999). This qualitative research study aimed to make a further contribution to the evidence-base by investigating the experience of adjusting to life after ABI. Method: Six participants, (two female, four male) aged 26-49, who had experienced a severe ABI an average of 31 months previously, were interviewed using a semistructured schedule. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to analyse the transcripts. Results: Five master themes emerged from the participants’ accounts: Experiencing a loss of control; Observed changes as a threat to identity; Being displaced by the injury: Feeling unchanged in a changed world; Attempts at managing a threatened identity, and Enable me don’t disable me: The role of support in recovery. Implications: Clinical implications were considered within Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 2004) Ecological Systems Theoretical Framework. Within the Microsystems (the individual’s immediate systems such as their body, home and work) participants described a struggle to make sense of their perceived loss of control of their body and brain. They described the importance of making sense of these changes. Clinically there is a potential role for professionals to facilitate how people make sense of their experiences, perhaps moving away from reductionist explanations, which appeared to prevent participants from having hope to influence change. From a Macrosystemic level (the individual’s social, cultural and political systems) the participants felt they were less valued and as a result, judged by society and by political systems. Participants’ accounts suggested that they wanted to continue to contribute and be valuable in society. An implication therefore is for professionals involved to take more a political stance in influencing how we currently conceptualise people after brain injury, focusing on enablement rather than disablement.
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Papadopoulou, Constantina. "Making sense of acute leukaemia : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of patients and family caregivers." Thesis, University of Dundee, 2014. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/942fa3ef-db44-4899-a550-5f5059f4ec92.
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Background and objectives: Living with acute leukaemia can challenge patients’ physical, emotional and psychological well-being and functioning, but can be a greatly challenging experience for their families, too. Such a life-changing experience can potentially initiate or accelerate a meaning-making process that may be prolonged and demanding. Yet, there is a dearth of empirical evidence with regard to how adult patients with acute leukaemia or their family carers make sense of their illness-related experiences, and, as a consequence, clinicians still lack the knowledge necessary to tailor support to this specific population. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to explore the processes, through which patients and family caregivers construct their meanings of acute leukaemia. Design and methods: An exploratory design was employed using serial, in-depth interviews, guided by Smith’s Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. Ten adult (>18 years of age) patients with acute leukaemia and eight patient-nominated family caregivers were recruited during a 14-month period from two clinical NHS sites in Scotland. Two serial interviews were conducted with each participant, two to four weeks apart, within the first year of diagnosis or post-relapse. In total, thirty-six interviews were analysed. Results: Findings deriving from patient interviews indicated that acute leukaemia creates a state of imbalance to the person, which may initiate a search for a new equilibrium. Patients’ journeys towards making sense of their illness may involve three inter-changeable processes: decay, transformation and growth. As patients learned of their diagnosis and their treatment commenced, a sense of decay dominated their lives. ‘Feeling like being a prisoner’ and ‘living with an impaired self’ were two common emergent themes. Running in parallel, signs of transformation started to become more evident as time elapsed. Within the third making-sense process, that is to say growth, themes such as strengthened family bonds, and reprioritising values were among the most prominent. Carers’ accounts of their indirect cancer experience revealed that family members made sense of their acute leukaemia-related situation as a state of limbo that was conceptualised as a maze. After being thrust into limbo, the invisible nature of acute leukaemia created difficulties for carers to conceptualise it; however, they experienced its impact on their lives quite hastily. In order to navigate limbo, carers had to learn to steer through their social world and the unfamiliar hospital environment and eventually manage to transcend limbo by employing various coping strategies, by facilitating the cancer journey of their loved ones, and finally, by reconciling with the patient’s illness. Conclusions and future implications: Findings of this contextually and methodologically novel study highlight the complex nature of sense-making for both patients and family caregivers experiencing acute leukaemia. Additional research is warranted to further uncover the various ways in which meaning is initially constructed, negotiated, re-visited and reformed as patients and/or family carers go through the different phases of living with the illness. In any case, clinicians can rely on the findings of the present study in order to provide on-going support and guidance so that patients and carers visualise the ‘invisible’ acute leukaemia and make sense of their illness-related situation in ways that favour their short- and long-term psychosocial adjustment.
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Oliver, Sarah. "Children's conversations with their friends about living with a parent experiencing mental distress : an IPA study." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/19909.
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Background and Aims Estimates suggest more than three million children and young people (CYP) live with a parent experiencing mental distress (PEMD). It is suggested that CYP are often left to make sense of the uncertain nature of mental distress on their own. Furthermore, the existence of stigma can silence CYP and their families, as they try and hide from the view of others. CYP have voiced their desire for support. However, there are few services available to them in the UK, despite developments in policy highlighting the need for support. As CYP grow up, greater emphasis gets placed on relationships with friends. Therefore, CYP's peer group may provide a valuable source of support. This research aims to explore how CYP living with a PEMD gaining support from their friends. Methodology This research used a qualitative design to explore CYP's lived experiences. A purposive sample of six CYP who were living with a PEMD were recruited. CYP were invited to take part in semi-structured interviews, which were then transcribed. Analysis and Findings The interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis revealed three superordinate themes: 'Fitting the puzzle together', 'Finding the experience of talking risky', and 'Coping with the up and down rollercoaster'. The findings support research recognising the importance of understanding mental distress, but CYP's accounts in this study provide further insight into the intricacies of what is meant by understanding. Furthermore, the research brings to light the challenges that CYP face when trying to build trusting relationships, in order to confide in their friends about their parent's experience of mental distress. Clinical implications, including recommendations for possible interventions are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.
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MacBryer, Shona. "Parent carers of adults with brain injury : a thesis portfolio." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/15923.
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Consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI) can be life long and complex. The majority of those who sustain an ABI are cared for by family members. Many are young adults who are cared for by parents. A systematic review highlighted that there is little in the way of research that focused on the experience of parent caregivers, particularly in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) population and in the early days of caregiving post discharge from hospital. Method A qualitative design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used. Six participants were recruited; three from the NHS and three from Headway. Results Four superordinate themes emerged: carrying on with the parenting role; barriers to caregiving; factors that engender mastery; and the psychological, physical and social impact on parents. Conclusion The early weeks at home following discharge from hospital are exciting but exhausting and parents were ill-prepared to meet some of the challenges. Parents wanted more TBI specific services for their family members and themselves. Some experienced difficult emotions during the first few weeks at home and so there is a need for regular, on-going input that starts before discharge from hospital. This has relevance for professionals as parents should be involved in the care and decision making from the acute stage onwards as they will be the people assuming responsibility on discharge from hospital. They should be assessed early on to see what psychological or practical support must be in place before their family member leaves hospital.
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Mackey, Ellen Alice. "An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of fathers of adults diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/17188.
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Existing research has started to explore the experiences of the people around children and adults diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA). However, there are very few studies looking at the experiences of fathers, and there are less studies in relation to adults rather than children. This study aims to take an in depth look at the experiences of these fathers in order to start building our knowledge of the experiences of being the father of someone with a diagnosis of AS or HFA. Four fathers of sons and three fathers of daughters with a diagnosis of AS or HFA were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The experiences of the fathers were explored qualitatively, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Analysis of the transcripts brought out four superordinate themes for the seven fathers. The first theme: 'The changing role but constant responsibility of being a "Father"' described the fathers' perceptions of their roles and responsibilities towards their child as they have grown up and into the future. The second theme: 'The importance of knowledge and understanding' described the importance the fathers placed on developing their understanding of their child and the need for other people to understand them and their child. The third theme: 'The intense emotional impact' came from the fathers' descriptions of the positive and negative emotional reactions to the challenges their children and families have faced. The final theme: 'The importance of good support' includes the fathers' good and bad experiences of support services and support from family and friends. The results of the analysis are discussed in relation to the existing literature and in terms of what they mean for the clinical practice of people working with fathers of children and adults with AS or HFA. The strengths and limitations of the study are also discussed.
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Adamson, Jacqueline. "A Cognitive Behaviour Therapy influenced approach to deliver employability effectively to undergraduate Information Systems students : an IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) study." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2015. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/29608/.
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Research literature highlights a gap in the provision of degree programmes being offered to students in relation to the skill set that is needed by employers. To bridge this gap universities need to seek an alternative approach to teaching and learning that is educationally credible, yet addresses the needs of the employability agenda. The aim of this research is to develop a capability model for HE teaching and learning, in the first instance, for Information Systems undergraduate students that embeds CBT tools and techniques into a modified constructivist curriculum studied by those students. The model successfully embeds PDP and employability as an integral part of the degree experience for those students at Northumbria University. The teaching approach is influenced by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as part of this innovative teaching model, developed from existing and emerging educational psychology. The study explores the relationships, the dialogue and perceptions, between staff and students and investigates the student experience relating to their self-efficacy and self-actualisation during that period, with a particular emphasis on employability skills and attributes. The research employs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with data collected from six purposively selected participants. The data is qualitative and adheres to IPA methodology protocols resulting in a holistic understanding of the students’ perceptions and behavioural practices. The results demonstrate the importance for academia to consider the individual differences and learning styles of their students in relation to the programme design and delivery methods. Analysis of the data reinforces the shift required in the curriculum framework in order to influence the employability skills and ‘graduate attributes’ of the students. The findings provide institutions with a research rich approach to deliver high quality degree programmes that will ensure the future proofing and validity of the provision. Specific attention is focussed on a new approach to teaching – PEDaLL (Personal, Employability, Development and Lifelong Learning) - that Higher Education Institutions can use to influence policy and reshape organisational culture. Furthermore, this research contributes to meaningful staff development for educators, the embedding of employability within programmes and addressing the requirements of the student Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).
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Smook, Levina Johanna Lelanie. "Living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder : an IPA study." Thesis, University of Wolverhampton, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2436/332347.
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Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) share many similarities such as the presence of obsessions and compulsions, a similar age of onset and also similar activation of underlying structures within the brain related to obsessions and compulsion formation. The recently published DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) has grouped the two conditions together in a chapter entitled Obsessive Compulsive -and related disorders, recognising the similarities in presentation. This appeared to echo the classification within the NICE guidelines for OCD and BDD (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2006) where the two conditions were grouped together on the presence of obsessions and compulsions, neurological evidence pointing to the activation of brain areas responsible for obsessive thoughts and compulsive acts alongside strong familial links. Both OCD and BDD were understood (from both sets of guidelines) to respond well to the use of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors and the treatment use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This qualitative research study focuses on the gap in existing literature by studying the lived experience of individuals living with obsessions and compulsions. Much focus has historically remained on understanding the clinical symptomology and underlying constructs as related to living with obsessions and compulsions, through the use of questionnaires or brain imaging. With recent changes in the DSM-V (Statistical Manual for mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) recognising OCD and BDD as part of the same family of conditions, it appeared timely to focus on the individuals living with OCD or BDD and their sense and meaning making as informed by their experiences of obsessions and compulsions.
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Noble, Ariele M. "'You know, you've got to be kind of human' : how CBT therapists experience personal therapy in clinical practice." Thesis, University of Roehampton, 2017. https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/you-know-youve-got-to-be-kind-of-human(88a9e8c0-6645-4224-aeea-5d95bc045b06).html.
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This study explores the subjective experiences of CBT therapists who have undergone personal therapy and seeks to gain insight into the significance of personal therapy in CBT clinical practice. Seven CBT therapists who have undergone personal therapy were interviewed. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was chosen to generate rich interview data. Participants were asked about their experience of personal therapy in clinical practice. Participants' narratives were analysed using IPA to identify common themes. The analysis resulted in twelve interrelated themes from which three master themes emerged. The first theme, 'Personal therapy creates conflict', explores a paradox that arises between personal therapy and CBT clinical practice; participants suggest that personal therapy equips them with therapeutic tools that paradoxically hinder their capacity to practice a standardised protocol-led CBT. The second master theme, 'Personal therapy ties me to humanity', suggests that the gap between personal therapy and CBT practice narrows by participants' 'use of self': calling upon their own vulnerabilities to forge fundamental connections with their clients based on the shared experience of being human. This study finds that all participants value 'being human' with their clients, however, struggle to find the space 'to just be' within an action-focused, goal-orientated CBT model. This is further explored in the final theme, 'Personal therapy: Being and doing'. Potential implications of the themes that emerged were considered. This study contributes to the literature on CBT and counselling psychology, and to the understanding of a divide in the psychotherapy profession between evidence-based priorities and expectations of reflective practice.
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Rice, Niamh. "Treating individuals who have sexually offended." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/14220.
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The aim of this thesis was to contribute to our understanding of the therapeutic relationship between clinicians and individuals who have committed sexual offences against children and adults. To do this a systematic review was carried out which explored the relationship between attachment styles and types of sexual offending to investigate whether there is an association between types of sexual offences and types of insecure attachment styles. 16 articles were identified and evaluated. The results of this review indicated that individuals who have sexually offended against children demonstrated more insecure childhood maternal and paternal attachments alongside higher rates of insecure adult attachment styles whereas individuals who have sexually offended against adults demonstrated a more variable pattern of maternal and paternal attachments. Types of sexual offending did appear to be related to different insecure attachment styles with child molesters predominantly identified as preoccupied and fearful and rapists classified as dismissing. A separate qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was also completed which explored the experiences of therapists involved in the delivery of group treatment for sexual offenders. Some of the experiences reported were similar to those outlined in previous studies (the importance of collegial support, the experience of intrusive cognitions, managing challenging characteristics of sexual offenders and the perception of being involved in protecting the public) but some were not (the prestige felt from belonging to a niche profession, the pride of pushing professional boundaries and the perception of protecting the patient and managing professional challenges) offering further insight into the possible types of experiences encountered. An awareness and appreciation for the integral role attachment status plays in sexually deviant behaviour enables clinicians to anticipate the relational dynamics that may emerge during treatment and modify interventions appropriately to facilitate effectiveness and maintain the therapeutic alliance. In addition by exploring the experiences of sex offender therapists an understanding of the ways in which the therapeutic relationship and a therapist’s sense of self may be impacted can be garnered (Hernandez, Engstom & Gangsei, 2010; Lyn & Burton, 2004) assisting individuals and organisations in ensuring that the rewards are maximised and the challenges supported and reduced.
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Konstantinou, Georgia. "A qualitative exploration of how trainee counselling psychologists, with prior 'core' therapeutic training, experience and make sense of their current training in counselling psychology." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2016. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-qualitative-exploration-of-how-trainee-counselling-psychologists-with-prior-core-therapeutic-training-experience-and-make-sense-of-their-current-training-in-counselling-psychology(f9b95945-572e-4e86-b357-7c39daddcd27).html.
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Background: Therapeutic training is considered as the beginning of therapists' professional development. Research exploring the experiences of therapeutic training, particularly the experiences of trainee counselling psychologists is scarce. Additionally, research exploring the experiences of therapists integrating a new model of therapy is also limited; this is a surprising fact given the growing development of the integration movement in the therapeutic world. Aims: The present study explores how trainee counselling psychologists, with a prior training in a 'core' therapeutic model, experience and make sense of their current training in counselling psychology. As a secondary aim, this study explores how these trainees experienced integrating a new model of therapy in their practice and the process of integration within the context of counselling psychology training. Participants: Six trainee counselling psychologists from three different training courses based in the UK, who had all been previously trained in a single school model (primarily person-centred) participated in the study. Method: The present study is an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study. Data were collected through single, semi-structured, in-depth interviews during which participants were invited to reflect on their experiences of training. Findings: The five super-ordinate themes that were identified in the participants' narratives are: 'Desires, Expectations and Needs from counselling psychology training', 'The turbulence of counselling psychology training', 'The Questioning I', 'The Changing Self' and the 'Finding Peace'. Each of these themes described different components of these trainees' experience of counselling psychology training and reveal that it is a challenging experience on both an emotional and an intellectual level. Discussion: The identified findings of the present study deconstruct, illuminate and are illuminated by existing theoretical and empirical literature. These findings shed light on the cyclical process of professional development within the context of professional training in counselling psychology in the UK.
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Lerpiniere, Claire. "The Textile Archive : curating personal histories and family narratives." Thesis, De Montfort University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/11438.
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Textiles are a ubiquitous facet of global culture, with the potential to become records of significant relationships, events, and stories over their lifetime. This research project investigates textiles which have been informally gathered together, and kept within the home, for their emotional or symbolic resonance. No longer used for their designed function, these textiles are saved from disposal for their ability to prompt personal and family histories and stories, in a phenomenon identified within the study as the personal textile archive. Textile design research is increasingly concerned with incorporating interdisciplinary social and cultural frameworks within its traditional research fields of technology, innovation and creativity, to frame a textile's socio-cultural relevance. This shift in the field requires the development of specific textile design research tools which are capable of producing purposeful research which analyses the material and designed properties of textiles in relation to their symbolic or affective experience, in order to understand the user-experience of a textile. Phenomenological research methods are established as tools for investigating phenomena and lived experience from a first-person perspective, which the investigation of the personally significant textiles within this study requires. A particular method, interpretative phenomenological analysis, has been specifically adapted for textile design research, and it is demonstrated within this research project that is is able to investigate and analyse the personal textile archive, producing original insights into this phenomenon. Through this application of this adaptation of interpretative phenomenological analysis, the design, affordances and craftsmanship of a textile are revealed as interweaving with its emotional, sentimental, biographical orfamily historical meaning. This is a useful and important original contribution to textile design research, and the recommendation is made that other researchers in the field will be able to utilise and further test this tool within future textile design research studies.
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Bamford, Catherine Heather. "Living with a severe acquired brain injury as an inpatient in a neuro-rehabilitation unit : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/2319.
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Background: Until recently, qualitative researchers have avoided interviewing participants with brain injuries because of the ethical and practical dilemmas which may arise and because it has been argued that they may not be able to reflect and accurately report upon their experiences. Therefore, little research has been produced which explores the personal experience of living with a brain injury. Recently, however, some researchers have challenged the view that people with brain injuries are unsuitable as interviewees in qualitative research and have, through their own research, highlighted the importance of understanding their views and perspectives in order to provide them with the best care and rehabilitation. Aims: With this in mind, and in line with current calls for more research gaining the brain injured person’s perspective, this study attempted to gain an in depth understanding of what it is like from the brain injured person’s perspective, to live with an acquired brain injury. The study focussed upon the experience of gaining consciousness following a brain injury, the experience of living with permanent memory loss, the experience of gaining awareness of deficits, the experience of losing an identity and adjusting to a new identity, the impact on relationships with friends and family and experiences as an inpatient in a Brain Injury Unit. Sources of strength and coping mechanisms were also explored. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six individuals who had severe acquired brain injuries and were inpatients in a post-acute neuro-rehabilitation unit. The verbatim transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: The analysis produced four master themes. These were: ‘Piecing together the past and becoming aware of the present’, ‘The transition from old self to new self’, ‘Sources of strength and survival’ and ‘Experiences in rehabilitation’. A description of these themes is presented with the corresponding subordinate themes. Conclusions: The clinical implications of the research and guidance for future research are discussed. The study produced a valuable insight into the personal experience of living with a severe acquired brain injury that could be used to inform rehabilitation interventions. The results also indicated that people with acquired brain injuries may experience Post Traumatic Growth.
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Franey, Lorna. "Screen time : an exploratory study of the experience of pupils in the final year of primary school using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)." Thesis, University of Essex, 2017. http://repository.essex.ac.uk/20770/.
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Since the middle of the 20th century digital technological developments have transformed human behaviour on an individual, group and societal level. The result of which is that screen time is now an integral part of people’s lives, including that of children. Given this, this research study aims to further extend the current research on the phenomenon of screen time by exploring the views and lived experiences of children. The concept of screen time is broad, therefore, for the purposes of this research screen time is defined as the use of a handheld smart electronic device that is generally connected to other devices or networks via different wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G that can operate interactively allowing users to both find and share information. In this research study five participants in the final year of primary school shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews. Transcripts from the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in order to generate themes. Four superordinate themes emerged across all participants. These were: • Habitual • Sense of self • Impact on wellbeing and anxiety • Social relationships Possible implications of the study are discussed including further research and implications for educational psychology practice in supporting schools and families in relation to the phenomena of screen time.
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Morgan, Jill Patricia. "Those who sing together stay together : exploring lifelong musical engagement and its role in the health and wellbeing of couple relationships in retirement." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/20425.
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Varied academic accounts exist of the psychological and physiological benefits experienced through engagement with music. MacDonald, Kreutz and Mitchell (2012) state that there is an increasing amount of evidence to suggest that music has the ability to positively affect our feelings of health and wellbeing. Despite qualitative studies into the benefits of music on older people, in particular singing, (Hallam et al, 2013; Clift et al, 2008), there has been less focus on this retired generation. In a study by Pickles (2003) into music and the ‘third age’, a plea is made for a further understanding of the musical opportunities and needs for this age group. For the first time ever there are more than ten million people now aged over 65 within the UK (UK Parliament website, 2015) and their number exceeds those under 16 (McVeigh, 2009). Contemporary studies indicate a positive correlation between good health and wellbeing with productive pastimes (Stephens & Flick, 2010; Franklin & Tate, 2009), and further evidence shows a positive correlation between those who are married and lifespan longevity (Jaffe et al 2006). This supports the need to further research the function of music as a motivational activity and its position within couple relationships in the older generation. The aim of this investigation was to explore lifelong musical engagement and its role in the wellbeing of married couples in retirement. Five retired couples who were in good health and actively engaged in musical pursuits were interviewed individually utilising an idiographic methodology, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Seeking to offer new insights into the importance of music in this key area of health, identity and social relationships each participant offered meaningful perspectives on the phenomenon being investigated. Analysis of their narratives revealed three overarching themes: i) the centrality of music throughout the lifespan, ii) music as a therapeutic tool, and iii) music in the present and its role in future selves. Significant findings showed how the use of music within the dyadic relationship facilitates a joint identity through the lifespan which continues into old age, assists social reconstruction when agency is under threat, brings positivity and respect through matched musical preferences, enriches feelings of positivity for the future as musical engagement is still possible when mobility becomes an issue, enhances feelings of togetherness, and provides joy through the provision of a legacy to future generations. Recommendations are made for future research into expanding awareness of specific areas of musical engagement which enhance a sense of wellbeing in older age couples, and increasing knowledge of its role in other age group intimate partnerships.
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Darwent, Kirsty Lawrie. "The experience of being the first to breastfeed in a family : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/21612.
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The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby are well established; however, only 37.5% of Scottish women are currently breastfeeding at six to eight weeks with less than 1% breastfeeding exclusively for six months, as recommended by UK and international health policy. Family influence is amongst the socio-demographic factors which affect breastfeeding initiation and duration and women who were not breastfed themselves are 25% less likely to initiate breastfeeding. While there is a growing body of literature which seeks to understand breastfeeding by exploring the perspectives of breastfeeding mothers, no studies can be found describing the experience of making a different feeding choice from that of one’s family-of-origin, nor of the potential impact of this decision on relationships with them. As such, this study exploring the experience of being the first in your family to breastfeed is novel. The aim of the study was to investigate the experience and meaning of being the first person to breastfeed in a family. Consequently, areas explored included women’s experience of initiating and sustaining breastfeeding when they have no immediate family history of breastfeeding, how women make sense of their decision to breastfeed and their understanding of how their decision has affected their relationships. A methodological development in the form of an Infant Feeding Genogram was used to record relevant demographic and family information and semi-structured interviews with fourteen women obtained in-depth narratives. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used as an approach and to analyse the data. Following the completion of idiographic analysis, cross participant analysis was undertaken and four superordinate themes emerged: Breaching Family and Social Norms; Volitions and Imperatives; Unprepared for the Challenge; and A Sacrifice but Worth It. Within these superordinate themes, 13 themes were identified and articulated. Findings from this research were synthesised to provide an account of how women experience being the first to breastfeed in a family, make sense of their decisions and the impact this has on their relationships with their family. This provides an understanding of women’s experience in an original context, and the contextualising within the existing literature generates commonalities and highlights differences between the experience of this group of breastfeeding women and the wider cohort. The findings of this research inform recommendations for practice at both an individual and public health levels, and have implications for policy makers, health professionals and breastfeeding support organisations. It is asserted that policy makers and the health service need to acknowledge the unanticipated consequences of some current breastfeeding discourses associated with health promotion practices, and take a mother and family focussed approach to breastfeeding that acknowledges women’s embodied experience, which often includes breastfeeding difficulties. A mother and family centred approach can identify and adapt to women’s support needs in their own particular context, which may include very limited community and family support for their decision.
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Young, Stephen J. "The rewards and challenges of raising a child with a disability: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of parent well-being and growth." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2018. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/118726/1/Stephen_Young_Thesis.pdf.
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This project comprises an in-depth study of the rewards and challenges of raising a child with a disability - from distress through to personal growth. In contrast to existing cross-sectional and deficit-focused research, this strengths-based project used a longitudinal methodology to comprehensively explore parent lived experience across time. Findings extend multiple theoretical and practice based areas, including the development of key policy recommendations.
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Blank, Alison. "'It's not just about the money' : the meaning of work for people with severe and enduring mental health problems : an interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, Brunel University, 2011. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/6446.
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“It’s not just about the money”: the meaning of work for people with severe and enduring mental health problems – an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Aim – to explore the meaning of work for people living with severe and enduring mental health problems. Method - Ten participants were recruited and interviewed initially; eight at six months; four at eighteen months. A longitudinal approach was chosen to facilitate capturing changes in the participants’ life worlds. The method used was interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings - Three overarching themes were identified. Building and maintaining an occupational identity expressed the ways in which participants used occupations as the building blocks of an evolving identity; some viewed work as a socially valued way of doing this. Most of the participants had aspirations towards work, and occupation in a broad sense was seen as an essential component of recovery from mental ill health. Work, and other ways of belonging encapsulated the need to feel connected to others. Many of the participants envisaged working as a way of achieving this. Others had experienced work as isolating and excluding, and had found leaving or changing work roles to be liberating. Work values, personal values; the need for accord reflected the attitudes that participants held about the role of work in their lives, and in society. These views reflected ambivalent feelings about working which often seemed to stem from distressing experiences of work. The longitudinal nature of the study facilitated engagement with the developing narratives and exploration of the changes and consistencies in the participants’ meaning making about work. Conclusion - work may contribute to recovery, as can other forms of occupational engagement. Attention to identity building and fostering a sense of belonging is important. Implications relate to the need for service providers to utilise a flexible approach to occupational participation.
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Pateraki, Eleni. "Interaction between asthma and anxiety : a systematic review of cognitive-behavioural therapies and a qualitative exploration of young people's experiences." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/20958.
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Aims: There is a well-established link between asthma and anxiety, leading to exacerbations for both conditions. National guidelines and policy documents recommend the provision of psychological interventions for this comorbidity, although evidence for their effectiveness is inconclusive. This thesis had two objectives: a) to evaluate cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions for reducing anxiety in adults and/or children with asthma, given that CBT has a stronger evidence base for relevant respiratory and mental health conditions, b) to explore the lived experience of the interplay between childhood asthma and anxiety directly from the affected population in order to identify specific thinking and behaviour patterns that may maintain this comorbidity. Method: The first journal article outlined a systematic review. Three major electronic databases and manual searches were used to find relevant published and unpublished research. Trials meeting inclusion criteria, primarily utilising validated anxiety measures and employing both cognitive and behavioural techniques, were evaluated using adapted quality criteria. The second empirical article implemented interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the mechanisms maintaining the interplay between asthma and anxiety as experienced by 11 young people (aged 11-15) living with the comorbidity. Results: Fourteen trials met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The reviewed trials showed reasonable preliminary support for the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety in individuals with asthma across the age range. The favourable results were largely maintained long-term. The empirical article revealed three super-ordinate themes: i) ‘the influence of asthma’ by inhibiting valued activities or developmental tasks, triggering catastrophic thinking and leading to a generalisation of asthma coping strategies to managing anxiety; ii) ‘the influence of anxiety’ by affecting appropriate medication use and triggering hyperventilation-induced asthma exacerbations; and iii) ‘the interaction between asthma and anxiety’ by forming an unhelpful positive feedback loop and triggering symptom confusion. Conclusions: The systematic review discussed the moderate overall study quality and called for more methodologically robust research, examining CBT models tailored to this population and utilising clinically representative samples. The empirical article pointed to possible maintaining mechanisms identified, which lend themselves to a cognitive-behavioural framework, potentially including mindfulness-based interventions, and may be used to tailor psychological treatments.
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Parkes, Claire. "After the honeymoon period : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of bariatric surgery patients 12 months to three years post operatively." Thesis, University of Wolverhampton, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2436/561196.
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The role of a psychologist within bariatric services is predominately focussed on the completion of preoperative psychological assessments (NICE, 2006; Ratcliffe et al, 2014). This role requires the psychologist to determine the suitability of the patient for surgery (Bauchowitz et al., 2005; Fabricatore et al., 2006; Sogg & Mori, 2004; UK Faculty of clinical health psychology; Psychologists in weight management network meeting, 2013), however no research to date has been able to reliably determine which variables could be associated with sub optimal weight loss (Sarwer, Wadden, & Fabricatore, 2005; Van Hout, Verschure, and van Heck, 2005; Wadden, Sarwer, Fabricatore, 2007). The first part of this study examines the empirical evidence for a range of variables considered by professionals to be clear contraindications to surgery. The variables were collated from surveys conducted in America (Bauchowitz et al., 2005; Fabricatore et al., 2006). Due to conflicting evidence and various problems with the studies it is difficult for a clinician to draw any firm conclusions from the review. Therefore, an ideographic approach is suggested, which leads onto the second part of the researcher dossier. The empirical chapter presents an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of interviews with 14 bariatric participants who were 12 months to three years post-operative to explore their experience of - 21 surgery. This time frame was chosen to capture the participants after the ‘honeymoon phase’ when the participants have hit their weight plateau (Yale & Weiler, 1991; Brolin, 1992). The themes from the study were ‘pre op’ ‘phases’ weight maintenance’ ‘impact of the operation’ and an overall psychological theme of ‘locus of control’. Support was a key area for the participants, they described the lack of support they felt from professionals and means of seeking support elsewhere. The themes also highlighted the psychological struggle the participants go through post operatively with eating, however, this is balanced with the positive changes in identity and their ability to engage with life, no longer impeded by their weight. Recommendations from the study suggest the importance of psychologists being available to bariatric patients, in accordance with NICE guidance, and that all bariatric patients start their journey to surgery in a level three service (which is a weight management service with consists of a multi-disciplinary team) before being referred to the tier four surgical team. Finally weight loss prior to surgery is recommended, with an alternative method of achieving this than that presented in the recent British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (2014) publication.
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Greer, Joanne. "'Gleaning the grain from the threshing-floor in the midst of a storm' : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of educational psychologists' experience of working as expert witnesses in the family court." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2018. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/gleaning-the-grain-from-the-threshingfloor-in-the-midst-of-a-storma--an-interpretative-phenomenological-analysis-of-educational-psychologistsa-experience-of-working-as-expert-witnesses-in-the-family-court(8a7900dd-7252-4f22-8e10-fdd512734fe1).html.
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The aim of this research was to explore the lived experience of educational psychologists (EPs) working as expert witnesses in the family court and to capture some of their tacit knowledge. The research was conducted during a 'perfect storm' of reforms in family justice, austerity measures and following the publication of 'The Ireland Report' (Ireland, 2012) which was highly critical of the quality of psychological reports prepared for the family courts and captured the attention of the national media at a time when several high profile cases involving expert witness malpractice were also under scrutiny. Adopting Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the methodology, two EP expert witnesses were interviewed using in-depth conversations based around two semi-structured interview prompts. Interview transcripts were then analysed using IPA, firstly within individual interviews and cases and then across interviews and cases. Superordinate themes emerged as five main focus points: 1) The role of being an EP and an expert witness, 2) Maintaining a phenomenological attitude, 3) Personal and professional identity, 4) The context of court and 5) The experience of the interview. Findings indicate that the widely accepted Fallon, Woods and Rooney (2010) definition of who EPs are and what EPs do also holds in the context of the family court, with the scientist-practitioner identity being further illuminated in this milieu, especially with regard to formulation, maintaining a phenomenological attitude and reflexivity.
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Evans, Maria Magdalena. "What happens to psychological depth in brief-term therapy with trainee therapists? : clients' experiences of therapy and the therapeutic relationship using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)." Thesis, Middlesex University, 2014. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/14046/.
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The purpose of this doctoral research project was to explore the conscious and subconscious thoughts and feelings clients had about their experience of brief-term therapy and the therapeutic relationship. The methodology chosen was IPA because it examines in systematic detail the complex understandings from individuals’ making sense of a phenomenon. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with 10 clients who had recently ended their therapy with trainee integrative practitioners at one low-cost counselling agency. To reach psychological depth, an ‘object-tray’ of miniature objects was used in each interview to facilitate access to clients’ intrapsychic and intersubjective processes, and to trigger metaphorical thinking. Findings detail a wide range of clients’ multi-faceted fears and thoughts, and reveal how these relate to client negativity, defensiveness and resistance. They demonstrate how clients were active in overcoming their fears (or not!) and illustrate how clients reflected upon their therapeutic relationships. This study also offers clients’ perceptions of various helpful interventions found to be therapeutically successful for reducing fears, and for facilitating psychological recovery and personal growth. The impact of this study could influence assessment procedures, and therapeutic practice and trainings by helping assessors and therapists develop their skills in demystifying therapy for clients and addressing client fears; it could also potentially help to understand the reasons for drop-outs. Furthermore, this study emphasises the need for therapists to obtain client feedback both early on and continually throughout the course of therapy and for therapists to work collaboratively according to clients’ needs and wants. However it must be recognised that, as this was small scale research carried out in one particular location, it is possible that another group of ex-client participants would have different sense-making narratives and another researcher might have responded differently in the interview process, perhaps drawing out different data with correspondingly different considerations.
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Miller-Munoz, Melissa. "Motherhood redefined: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences of lesbian mothers and the sociopolitical conflicts that shape their narratives." Diss., NSUWorks, 2016. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/51.
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This study explored the lives of lesbian mothers with children conceived through insemination or the adoption process in an effort to understand the conflicts they encountered along their journey to motherhood and how they managed those conflicts. The qualitative study included in-depth interviews conducted with six participants. The participants’ ages ranged between 25-60 years old. Interview results were analyzed to explore participants’ narratives in regards to their experiences, relationships, identities and transformation into motherhood. This research highlights significant ongoing developments in the field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) studies and seeks to intersect the boundaries between interpersonal and sociopolitical conflicts with the phenomena of lesbian-mothered families. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this research provides a contribution to the interdisciplinary field of conflict resolution with a focus on the central research question: What is the common experience shared among lesbian mothers in their transformation to motherhood? The key findings of this study interrelate with themes of interpersonal conflict, role conflict, and sociopolitical conflict. The conclusions contribute to the field of conflict analysis and resolution, expand upon recent developments on LGBT family systems, and suggest new areas for further examination from the perspective of conflict analysis scholarship.