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Middle‐Range Theory Of Chronic Sorrow
Author(s) -
Eakes Georgene G.,
Burke Mary L.,
Hainsworth Margaret A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
image: the journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 0743-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1998.tb01276.x
Subject(s) - sorrow , grief , sadness , psychology , feeling , coping (psychology) , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , social psychology , anger
Purpose: To introduce a middle‐range nursing theory of chronic sorrow that presents this sorrow as a normal response to ongoing disparity due to loss. Chronic sorrow is the periodic recurrence of permanent, pervasive sadness or other grief related feelings associated with a significant loss. The theory provides a framework for understanding and working with people following a single or ongoing loss. Organizing framework: The model of chronic sorrow includes antecedents, trigger events, and internal and external management methods. Scope: Theory is useful for analyzing individual responses of people experiencing ongoing disparity due to chronic illness, caregiving responsibilities, loss of the “perfect” child, or bereavement. Sources: The theory was developed using concept analysis, critical review of research, and validation in 10 qualitative studies of various loss situations. Conclusions: Chronic sorrow has been shown to explain the experience of people across the lifespan who encounter ongoing disparity because of significant loss. Nurses need to view chronic sorrow as a normal response to loss and, when it is triggered, provide support by fostering positive coping strategies and assuming roles that increase comfort.