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Lived experience of Thai women and their changing bodies in midlife
Author(s) -
Noonil Naiyana,
Hendricks Joyce,
Aekwarangkoon Saifon
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2012.00710.x
Subject(s) - lived experience , phenomenological method , psychology , buddhism , gerontology , health professionals , interpretative phenomenological analysis , gender studies , health care , medicine , qualitative research , sociology , psychotherapist , history , political science , social science , philosophy , archaeology , epistemology , law
This study focused on the lived experience of Thai women and their changing bodies in midlife. The methodology chosen was a phenomenological approach. Eighteen women aged 46–55 years, who lived in the southern Thailand and identified themselves as experiencing physiological changes, participated in the study. Five themes became apparent during the analysis of the women's stories: changing in midlife, sensing normal phenomena, searching for explanation, sense of loss, and self‐managing. This study reveals that Thai women's traditional ties to Buddhism play a major role in their acceptance of midlife as part of the life cycle; an event that is best managed with support from other women. Health professionals should reconsider their understanding of women's midlife experiences in order to provide effective healthcare support to Thai women.