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HIV informal caregiving: Emergent conflict and growth
Author(s) -
Reynolds Nancy R.,
Alonzo Angelo A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199806)21:3<251::aid-nur8>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - psychosocial , distress , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychology , variety (cybernetics) , health care , developmental psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , family medicine , political science , artificial intelligence , computer science , law
Findings are reported from a prospective study of 20 persons on the experience of providing informal care to partners or family members with HIV syndrome. In‐depth, focused interviews were completed. Data were initially coded using an inductive technique and thematically analyzed. The informal care providers were found to engage in a variety of interacting, and often conflicting, psychosocial and instrumental processes that occurred over three emergent phases: (a) transitions to care, (b) living the burden, and (c) facing the void. Although the care providers struggled with various sources of uncertainty and distress, when periods of equanimity were realized, they experienced a heightened sense of coherence and personal growth. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 21:251–260, 1998