Bakgrund: ALS är en obotlig sjukdom som orsakar muskelförtvining som leder till försämrad rörelseförmåga och inom en begränsad tid avlider patienten. En patient som inte känner mening i livet kan stöta på svårigheter beträffande förmåga att uppleva välbefinnande. Patienter som lever med ALS lever med en rädsla eftersom diagnosen innebär förlust av framtiden. Det är därför viktigt att patienterna får professionellt stöd av sjuksköterskan. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva patienters upplevelser av att leva med ALS. Metod: Studien bygger på en kvalitativ metod och data analyserades utifrån en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med en induktiv ansats som grundas på tre självbiografier och två biografier. Resultat: Det framkommer att patienterna som lever med ALS upplever ett förändrat livsperspektiv, ett nytt sammanhang, själsliga och kroppsliga påföljder samt att relationer påverkar välbefinnandet. Konklusion: Patienter som lever med ALS upplever både välbefinnande och lidande. Sjuksköterskan ansvarar för att patienterna ska erhålla rätt stöd samt hjälp som de önskar och är i behov av för att de ska känna livskvalitet i vardagen. Sjuksköterskans förhållningssätt och bemötande i det personliga mötet med patienterna bedöms vara avgörande för deras upplevelse av välbefinnande. / Background: ALS is an incurable disease that causes muscle loss which leads to impaired mobility and within a limited time the patient dies. A patient who does not know the meaning of life may encounter difficulties in the ability to experience well-being. Patients living with ALS live with a fear because the diagnosis means loss of the future. It is therefore important that patients receive professional support from the nurse. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe patients' experiences of living with ALS. Method: The study is based on a qualitative method and data were analyzed based on a qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach based on three autobiographies and two biographies. Results: It appears that patients living with ALS experience a changed life perspective, a new context, mental and physical sanctions, and that relationships affect well-being. Conclusion: Patients living with ALS experience both well-being and suffering. The nurse is responsible for ensuring that patients receive the right support and assistance that they desire and require to feel quality of life in their everyday lives. The nurse's approach in the personal encounter with the patients is considered to be crucial for their experience of well-being.

This study explored the social construction of black male Zimbabwean refugees’ identities as they experienced becoming refugees living in South Africa. A review of refugee literature revealed that Zimbabwean refugees demonstrate an exceptional nature that sets them apart from what most definitions of refugees assume. Refugee theory focusing on deficits and disorder promoted a view of refugees as helpless victims. As a result, refugees have come to be viewed as state burdens. Immigration practices characterized by the herding of refugees into spatially segregated areas, deportation and neglect continue to endanger the livelihoods of refugees. The manner in which government and media conceptualise the identity of a refugee has significant consequences for foreigners and locals. It is therefore important to explore the social construction of black male Zimbabwean refugees’ identities by investigating their own experiences through the telling of life stories. A process of in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with four black male Zimbabwean refugees between the ages of 18 and 50, all currently living in South Africa. A self told life story outlined a narrative of their past migration, present circumstances and future deliberations. Results showed that participants bore great suffering in search of a stable existence. They were subjected to political abuse and an immense economic downfall in Zimbabwe, and experienced a great shock of self-confidence upon leaving their home. They came to bear a painful sense of ‘otherness’ living as a foreigner, and had to develop new understandings of themselves. Race and religion became important signifiers of identity, and participants were said to undergo a posttraumatic growth in the aftermath of their turbulent experiences. A study such as this offers valuable insights into the aspects of a Zimbabwean refugee’s existence and needs. Research may also inform bureaucratic practices as to conceptualising more appropriate refugee relations in the future, as well as media campaigns capable of rehabilitating the image of the refugee. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Psychology / unrestricted

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Den ojämna könsfördelningen i byggbranschen är än idag en utmaning för att förmå kvinnor att söka sig till, samt stanna kvar i branschen. Tidigare forskning gör det tydligt att det finns ett flertal orsaker till detta och pekar på olika tillvägagångssätt för hur könsfördelningen ska behandlas. Syftet med denna studie är att, genom tre kvinnors berättelser, undersöka deras upplevelser och erfarenheter från sina arbetsliv i byggbranschen, hur de återberättar om dessa och hur de framställer sig själva i sina återgivanden. Metoden för att inhämta data för att svara på studiens frågeställningar har varit genom livsberättelseintervjuer med tre kvinnor aktiva i byggbranschen. Resultaten från livsberättelseintervjuerna analyserades genom narrativ teori, varpå livsberättelser konstruerades. Därefter genomfördes analyser av livsberättelserna i enlighet med den narrativa teorin. Resultaten visade att de tre kvinnorna, var och en för sig, har haft unika upplevelser av och erfarenheter från sina arbetsliv. Deras unika berättelser visade även på hur deras handlande, vilka emotionsuttryck, relationer, meningsskapande och därigenom deras unika identiteter uttrycks i varje livsberättelse. De slutsatser som drogs från forskningsundersökningen var bland annat att byggbranschen har genomgått en förändring idag, jämfört med förr, avseende kvinnornas arbetssituation. Resultaten delvis motbevisar, men även styrker, den allmänna uppfattningen av byggbranschen som manlig och denna nyanserade bild bör efterfrågas mer i det offentliga samtalet. / The gender imbalance in the construction industry is still a challenge for attracting and retaining women in the industry. Previous research makes it clear that there are a number of reasons for this and points to different approaches on how to address the gender imbalance. The purpose of this study has been to examine three women's experiences from their working lives in the construction industry, how they recount these, and how they portray themselves in their accounts. The method for collecting data to answer the study's questions has been through life story interviews with three women active in the construction industry. The results of the life story interviews were analyzed through narrative theory, after which life stories were constructed. The life stories were then analyzed according to the narrative theory. The results showed that the three women, individually, have had unique experiences of their working lives. Their unique stories also revealed how their actions, emotional expressions, relationships, identity expressions and thus their unique meaning-making are portrayed in each life story. The conclusions drawn from the research study were, among other things, that the construction industry has undergone a change today, compared to the past, regarding the work situation of the women. The results partly refute, but also reinforce, the general perception of the construction industry as male and this nuanced picture should be requested more in the public discourse.

As we enter the 21st century our population of elderly citizens is growing at a rate never seen before in our history. With the baby boomers retiring, society is realizing the vast potential of untapped resources. These individuals are also seeking opportunities to remain as active and engaged members of their communities. The purpose of this study was to examine the motivations for lifelong learning in the life of Hendrika "Henny" Schuster, an 81-year-old resident of Abingdon, Virginia. Her life story is presented in a narrative form and in a thematically organized chronological format. Interviews were conducted and recorded. These tapes were transcribed and analyzed to determine themes. Additional information was collected from personal journals, scrapbooks, and newspaper and magazine articles and photographs. The importance of family, formal educational opportunities, the influence of others, selfdirected study, and involvement in community all emerged as motivating themes in her pursuit of lifelong learning opportunities. For Henny, the factors identified as barriers to her quest included the internal stressors of family, gender, culture, and educational opportunities. Recommendations include the need to not only provide more educational opportunities for adult learners but also ensure that such opportunities are readily accessible. It is suggested that future studies look at the roles of gender and culture in regard to the ever changing populace and the global view of our world. There is a need to continue studies such as this in which older adult learners are provided opportunities to reflect on their experiences. Insight for learners of all ages can be gained from such studies.

Bakgrund: Demenssjukdom är en obotlig sjukdom som drabbar personens kognitiva funktioner. Detta leder till att personer med demenssjukdom riskerar att förlora förmågan att förmedla sina önskemål och behov över tid. En personcentrerad vård och omsorg innebär att personer med demenssjukdom står i fokus i stället för sin sjukdom och behandlas som unika personer med egna erfarenheter, självbild, tillit och rättigheter. Socialstyrelsen har tagit fram levnadsberättelse som grund för utformande av vård och omsorg av personer med demenssjukdom som en indikator för att mäta vårdens kvalitet och resultat vid vård av personer med demenssjukdom. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa levnadsberättelsens betydelse för en personcentrerad omvårdnad av personer med demenssjukdom ur tre perspektiv - personer med demenssjukdom, anhöriga och vårdpersonal. Metod: En allmän litteraturöversikt med en systematisk sökstrategi i CINAHL och PubMed genomfördes. Efter kvalitetsgranskning analyserades och inkluderades 17 artiklar som besvarade syftet. Resultat: I resultatet sammanställdes huvudkategorier: Personcentrerad vård utifrån levnadsberättelsen, Trygghetsskapande gemenskap, och Samarbetets fördelar och utmaningar. Resultatet visade upplevelser av levnadsberättelsen utifrån tre olika perspektiv som är personer med demenssjukdom, anhöriga och vårdpersonal. Levnadsberättelsen har visat sig vara en utgångspunkt för en personcentrerad vård för personer med demenssjukdom. Slutsats: Resultat visar att ett strukturerat arbete med levnadsberättelsen för att öka en personcentrerad vård och omsorg är betydelsefullt vid vård av personer med demenssjukdom. Det kvarstår utmaningar som försvårar arbetet med levnadsberättelse i alla verksamheter vilket påverkar den personcentrerade vården negativt. Därför är det av stor vikt att implementering av levnadsberättelsen i det dagliga arbetet fortgår. / Background: Dementia is an incurable disease that affects people's cognitive functions. This leads to people with dementia risking losing the ability to convey their wishes and needs over time. Person-centred care means that people with dementia are treated as unique people with own experiences, self-image, trust and rights. The National Board of Health and Welfare has developed life story as a basis for designing care for people with dementia as an indicator to measure quality of care and results when caring for people with dementia. Aim: The aim was to highlight the importance of life story for person-centered care in people with dementia from three perspectives- persons with dementia, relatives and caregivers.Methods: A general literature review with a systematic search strategy in CINHAL and PubMed was conducted. After quality review 17 articles that preserved the purpose of the work were included. Results: In the results three main categories were compiled: Person-centered care based on life story, Safety-creating community and Cooperation´s advantages and challenges. Results showed experiences of the life story from three different perspectives that are people with dementia, relatives and caregivers. The life story has proven to be a starting point for person-centred care for people with dementia. Conclusions: Results show that a structured work with the life story to increase person-centered care is important in care of people with dementia. There remain challenges that complicate the work with life stories in all organizations, which negatively affects person-centered care. Therefore, it is of great importance that the implementation of the life story in the daily work continues.

The purpose of the study is to contribute to knowledge and understanding of how young people with dyslexia think, feel and act. Another aim is to spread knowledge about how young peoples’ schooling, self-concept, academic self-concept and self-esteem are effected by obtaining a dyslexia diagnosis.How was school experienced prior to being diagnosed with dyslexia? How was the period during which the youths received their dyslexia diagnosis experienced? How did students experience school after being diagnosed with dyslexia?The study is theoretically grounded in Anthony Giddens socialization-process, Erving Goffman's dramaturgy and stigmatization as well as Maarit Johnson's dynamic model of self-esteem.The study has a narrative approach where young people's life stories have been in focus. Three in-depth interviews were conducted with adolescents aged 22 who all received a dyslexia diagnosis during their time in secondary school.The stories show that young people periodically was unable to live up to the expectations that the school had on them, which meant that the young people's self-image and self-esteem were affected negatively. Throughout the youths’ time in school they have been met with a social support structure in the form of one or more persons, significant others, who paid attention to their needs which meant that their motivation and academic self-concept significantly increased. The treatment from the people in their surroundings has been decisive for if they would experience themselves as stigmatized or not. The stigmatization caused them to experience lower self-esteem and in two of their stories they express that they experienced emotional strain, which expressed itself in an aggressive or deviant behaviour. They also point out social pressure as a factor, where the youths compared themselves with their classmates and the norms, values and expectations that existed within the school culture; which meant that they perceived themselves as deviants. It appears that the young people during theirschooling, before, during and after being diagnosed with dyslexia, never fully understood the meaning of it. It was not until they got older that they accepted and understood the meaning of dyslexia.

Through the life story narratives of Ethiopian women activists, this research explores the journey of Ethiopian women activists during three political and historical periods (1955–1974; 1974–1991; 1991–2015). Thus, the study proposes a new perspective on the forms of Ethiopian women’s activism and subsequently the different types of feminism emerging from their narratives. Through examination of how the activists reflect on, reconstruct and give meaning to their life stories, this research unravels that their activism is informed by feminist principles. It also exposes that it is shaped by a long history of resistance to patriarchy, which enabled women in traditional Ethiopia to negotiate a certain level of “autonomy and liberty”. Contrary to the general expectation, the research demonstrates that the process of modernization (read: westernization) came with its own structure based on western patriarchy, and reinforced local patriarchy. In this new, formalized patriarchy, the rights that women had negotiated through their resistance in earlier times were diminished. This study on women activists, categorized for the purpose of this research as pioneers, revolutionaries and negotiators, suggests that Ethiopian women activists have since adopted different forms of engagement that tend to improve the social, cultural, economic and political conditions of Ethiopian women. Consequently, I argue that, while Ethiopian women’s activism and feminism is firmly embedded in the history of resistance of previous generations of Ethiopian women, the form of activism varies according to the political and historical context in which the activists negotiate and adapt the way they act.

Rollen som skolchef i Sverige idag innebär ett ansvar för att alla styrdokument förutbildningen följs. Det finns dock inga lagstadgade erfarenhetskrav för skolchefer.Huvudmannen för utbildningsorganisationen bestämmer vilka erfarenheter och kunskapersom skolchefen behöver. Denna studie fokuserar på yrkeslivsberättelser från tre skolcheferinom en förskoleorganisation som alla har pedagogisk bakgrund. Studiens syfte är attundersöka skolchefers berättelser om deras yrkesresa från pedagog till skolchef samt attanalysera de yrkesidentiteter som framträder. Studien tillämpar en livsberättelseansats ochanvänder sig av en narrativ teorigrund. Genom tematisk narrativ analys presenterar studien deenskilda yrkeslivsberättelserna i sin helhet. Därefter följer en jämförande analys av likheteroch skillnader mellan berättelserna utifrån teoretiska begrepp. Studiens resultat och analysger, i form av berättelser, en bild av skolchefernas yrkesresor från pedagoger till skolcheferoch de individuella yrkesidentiteter som framträder. Utifrån studiens gemensamma analys sesskillnader i vad som är mest framträdande för skolcheferna utifrån subidentiteter och vad sommotiverar dem. De gemensamma likheterna utifrån yrkesidentiteterna visar på att samtligarespondenter såg fördelar med sin pedagogiska bakgrund i sin roll som skolchef samt att deansåg att deras sociala relationer var viktiga för deras möjligheter att utvecklas. Dessutomfann studien att skolcheferna framträder som individer med stort driv. / The role of school superintendent (Swedish: Skolchef) entails the responsibility of assuring that all educational regulations are observed. There are however no specific requirements for the school superindentents background. The head of the educational organisation decides what previous experience the school superintendent should have. This study focuses on the work life stories of three school superintendents in a private preschool organisation, all with pedagogical backgrounds. The purpose of the study is to explore the superintendents’ stories about the journey from educationist to superintendent, and to analyse the professional identities that emerge. The study employs a life story method and uses narrative theory as its theoretical framework. Through thematic narrative analysis the study first presents each work life story as a whole. Then follows a comparative analysis of similarities and differences between the stories through theoretical concepts. The results and analysis of the study illustrates the work life journey of the respondents, from educationist to school superintendents, and the professional identities that emerge. The joint comparative analysis found the differences between the school superintendents included their sub-identities as well as their sources of motivation. Regarding similarities, the study found that all three respondents saw their pedagogical backgrounds as beneficial for their role as school superintendents. Other similarities included the importance of work relationships for their growth and development, as well as a shared characteristic of ambition.

The wars in some Middle Eastern countries have played an essential role in increasingthe number of immigrants to Sweden in recent years. Some of these immigrants hadean entrepreneurial background in their home country. As former entrepreneurs, theyhave been seeking for opportunities since their arrival in Sweden in order to open theirown business. Our research focuses on the obstacles encountered by seven immigrants from theMiddle East with an entrepreneurial background after their stay in Sweden for at leastfive years, the measures they have taken and are taking to overcome these obstacles,and identifying their views and suggestions for needs. Alternatively, the solutionsneeded for them to overcome these obstacles and start their business. The researchaccording to the qualitative method, the research is conducted based on using the lifestory as a kind of semi-structured interviews to collect empirical data and to obtainwhat is unique in each story. The research was analyzed utilizing thematic analysisand interpretation of the interviewees' explanations. As for the strategies they undertook to overcome these obstacles, they were traditionaland similar to those undertaken by former immigrant entrepreneurs, such as ethnicentrepreneurship and networks, or new, such as early communication with businesssupport organizations, work, training and volunteer, and they showed great flexibilityto adapt and overcome obstacles. Their proposed needs were centred around teachingthe Swedish language and work culture during training or work, working with Swedish entrepreneurs, government support, tax cuts and government encouragementfor them, in addition to the need for effective support when establishing the companyand after incorporation, real analysis of the needs and increased police interest inimmigrant areas and facilitating their access to resources, suppliers and customers.Our group has shown great flexibility to adapt and overcome obstacles and be awareof the majority of obstacles that may arise as a result of ethnic entrepreneurship.