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Health as an individual's way of existence
Author(s) -
HäggmanLaitila Arja
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.1997025045.x
Subject(s) - existentialism , coping (psychology) , thematic analysis , grounded theory , psychology , health care , human life , social psychology , human being , qualitative research , epistemology , sociology , nursing , medicine , psychotherapist , social science , philosophy , humanity , theology , economics , economic growth
This paper examines health from the viewpoint of Finnish individuals. The goal of the study was to understand and describe the human being's health as an individual way of existence on the basis of life description. The methodology of the study were based on the existentialist phenomenological conception of a human being's existence and the essence of knowledge. The study answers the research question: How do Finnish adults who have been cared for in hospital experience health? The data were collected from 60 persons Via freeform thematic interviews. The data were analysed by applying the grounded theory method. The analysis led to the identification of five different way to experience health. To the interviewees, health meant independent coping, drifting with the current of life, developing one's personal existence, avoiding threats in one's life situation and taking care of the components of one's life situation. The results provide a deeper understanding of health within daily life and of a human being as a nursing client.