Few research studies have examined the panoramic landscape of family caregivers from dementia diagnosis to the final bereavement of the person with dementia for whom they are caring. The route and pathways of care undertaken during a caregiver's journey will be individual to each person, yet invariably there will be some similarities as to how they anticipate, approach and mange this journey. From the caregiver's perspective, caring for someone with dementia is related to more than the cognitive loss experienced by their family member, there are many losses involved, This research study aims to explore the complex emotional experiences of thirty caregivers in relation to sense of self. change, grief, loss and bereavement, to elucidate a deeper understanding of the lived experience, the perceived and understood reality of the experiential journey of caregivers. To explore the experiences of caregiving, this research study uses a hermeneutic phenomenological approach and draws on an adaptation of the theoretical framework of anticipatory grief and loss by Fulton and Fulton (1971) and Fulton and Gottesman (1980). The study uses a convenience sample and semi structured interview format and involves two non-comparative participant groups of family caregivers living in urban and rural communities within the North East of England. Group one comprises of twenty bereaved participants, nineteen of whom are spousal caregivers and one adult-caregiving daughter, who were interviewed once to explicated a retrospective perspective of the caring experience. Group two comprises of ten participants, nine spousal caregivers and one adult-caregiving daughter, who are currently caring for a family member living with an advanced stage experience of dementia. Group two participants were interviewed on three occasions across an eighteen-month time period to explore the retrospective and prospective experience of their caregiving role. The analysis of data reveals expressions of change, grief and loss within a complex and tri-dimensional landscape. Within this landscape, participants highlight defined periods of their journey, particularly with regard to their experience of a protracted middle period, which they referred to as being "the long road". However, intersecting with this layered landscape, the analysis of data also reveals a key aspect of caregiving - the emergence of a conceptual framework involving three interconnected yet fluctuating schemas of self experienced by participants. the first scheme, the individual 'me-self'. related to the participant's perception of their core self and envisaged sense of self. the second schema, the 'relationship-self', illustrates participant's physical and psychological experiences and bonded connection between themselves and the cared-for spousal partner or parent, as well as other family members and care workers. The third schema, the 'caregiving-self', is associated with the acquisition and undertaking of their role of familial caregiver. The findings of this study highlight the 'lived-world' experience of family caregivers as being a journey which subjects them to a cyclical maelstrom of emotion and fluctuating perception of their schemas of self.

Early conceptions of schizophrenia suggest that it is a disorder of consciousness, primarily manifested as a disturbance of self-experience. However, it is only recently that researchers are focusing on the experience of self in schizophrenia. Several recent phenomenological researchers argue that the disorders of self-experience represent the experiential core of schizophrenia, suggesting that the basic defects in self-experience are already subtly present in schizotypal or schizoid like personality traits typically present in schizophrenics (Parnas&Handest, 2003; Sass&Parnas, 2003). These authors argue that schizophrenia is primarily a disorder of consciousness clinically manifested as a disturbance of the sense of self. Authors investigating schizophrenia from a phenomenological perspective seem to have developed some consensus regarding the central role of autism, intentionality, ipseity and intersubjectivity – central constructs in phenomenological conceptions of the structure of consciousness. However, the focus of phenomenology on the entire person develops insights that are circular since all points of exploration reveal a close relationship between various dimensions of self/world experience, thus leading to a circular argument. The aim of this dissertation is to explore the relationship between the aforementioned constructs in a manner that addresses the circular logic implicit in the phenomenological structure in which certain researchers have embedded schizophrenia. A further aim is to provide a phenomenologically oriented conceptual framework in which the seemingly bizarre nature of schizophrenia may be made intelligible: that the symptoms may be interpreted as attempts at re-establishing a unified sense of self and a connection with the world of others. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted

No / This paper investigates the subjective experiences of older women living alone with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular or mixed dementia. Eight women were interviewed to explore how they managed their identities and coped with day-to-day living, in the absence of a significant co-resident other who might reflect them back to themselves. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis themes emerged about loss, embodiment, adapting, awareness, safety, relationships, exclusion and loneliness. Memory loss had the most significant impact through loss of independence. However, the women were actively engaged in re-constructing their sense of self, using a variety of coping strategies. Relationships with friends, neighbours and attendance at memory clubs were important. A search for meaningful relationships was apparent, conflicting with feeling vulnerable and a consequent desire for self protection.

Although many advances in the treatment of schizophrenia have been made over the past decade, little is known about the process of recovery from a first episode of schizophrenia (FES). To date, the study of recovery in the field of mental health has focused on long-term mental illness. This in depth qualitative study drew upon Charmaz’s (1990) constructivist grounded theory methodology to address the following questions: How do individuals who have experienced a FES describe their process of recovery? How does an identified individual (e.g. friend, family member, teacher, or clinician) describe their role during the participant’s process of recovery, and their perception of the recovery process? Ten primary participants (who self-identified as recovering from a FES) had two interviews; in addition, there was a one-time interview with a secondary participant, for a total of 30 interviews. Data collection sources included participant semi-structured interviews, participant selected personal objects that symbolized their recovery, and clinical records. The results provide a substantive theory of the process of recovery from a FES. The emergent process of recovery model for these participants is comprised of the following phases: ‘Lives prior to the illness’, ‘Lives interrupted: Encountering the illness’, ‘Engaging in services and supports’, ‘Re-engaging in life’, ‘Envisioning the future’; and the core category, ‘Re-shaping an enduring sense of self,’ that occurred through all phases. A prominent distinctive feature of this model is that participants’ enduring sense of self were reshaped versus reconstructed throughout their recovery. The emergent model of recovery from a FES is unique, and as such, provides implications for clinical care, future research, and policy development specifically for these young people and their families.

Public view removed at the authors request. 16/07/2006 / The daily experience of anorexia nervosa sufferers has not previously been studied and yet it is fundamental to understanding anorexia nervosa. This study examined and compared the daily experiences of anorexia nervosa patients and control participants in terms of sense of self, mood states and flow states. Flow is characterised by undivided concentration and interest in an activity for intrinsic benefits. Flow is not always desirable, as some ways of experiencing it may be harmful to the individual and society. Anorexia nervosa participants were recruited from hospitals and private practices of clinicians specialising in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Exclusion criteria included male gender, chronic anorexia nervosa, drug abuse, and current participation in an inpatient program. Anorexia nervosa participants completed a series of questionnaires at baseline, 3-6 month follow-up and 7-12 month follow-up (stage one, two and three respectively). The questionnaires were designed to measure the severity of their eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa and control group participants completed Experience Sampling Forms (ESF) and a Repertory Grid at baseline and 3-6 months. The ESFs were completed each time a pager was activated. The pager was activated seven times a day, for four days at random times between 8.00am and 10.00pm. The pager signals were a minimum of two hours apart. The Repertory Grid consisted of 23 constructs and 13 elements provided to the participant. Thirty-one anorexia nervosa sufferers and thirty-two control participants completed stage one and eighteen anorexia nervosa sufferers and twenty-seven control group participants completed stage two of the study. Eighteen anorexia nervosa sufferers completed stage three of the study. Control participants were not required to participate in stage three. There was no difference in the severity of anorexia nervosa between completers and drop-outs The analysis of the ESFs at stage one indicated that the anorexia nervosa group participants did not spend more time alone at home or more time alone in any situation than the control group. For both groups, being alone had a negative influence on mood state, but had no effect on sense of self. The anorexia nervosa group felt lonelier and less sociable than the control group. The mood state and sense of self for the anorexia nervosa group was significantly lower over all the ESFs when compared to the control group. They were also more self-critical, experienced higher levels of guilt, were less able to live up to their own expectations, and were less satisfied with their performance in the activity they were doing. The anorexia nervosa group experienced less flow states than the control group at stage one. There was an improvement in mood state, sense of self and self-criticism for the anorexia nervosa group when they were in a flow state compared to when they were not in a flow state. There was an improvement in mood state, sense of self, guilt and self-criticism for the control group when they experienced flow, however these differences were not significant. The anorexia nervosa group had a more positive mood state and sense of self at stage two when compared to stage one. Correspondingly, there was a trend towards a reduced severity of the disorder indicated by a significant improvement on some of the psychological tests (EAT, REDS, BDI, DT). There was also a significant improvement in BMI. However, there was a significant decline in the amount of flow of anorexia nervosa participants experienced at stage two when compared to stage one. This result may be attributed to the significant decline in the response rate on ESFs in the second stage of the study for both the anorexia nervosa and control groups. Anorexia nervosa non-responders at stage two reported more severe symptoms of anorexia nervosa than anorexia nervosa responders, although this was a trend and reached significance only on minor indicators of eating disorder severity. The identification of a factor that predicted severity over a six-month period was not possible. The repertory grid analysis showed that the construct system of the anorexia nervosa participants was tighter and less complex than that of the control group. The anorexia nervosa group construed themselves as dissimilar from the way they would like to be in any context. The control group construed themselves as similar to the way they would like to be when they were alone, but as dissimilar from the way they would like to be when they were with other people. While the most salient element for both the anorexia nervosa and control groups was 'alone at home', it appears that the controls use this time for goal-directed activities. In contrast, this time was dominated by fear of losing control for the anorexia nervosa group. Although there was a trend towards a decrease in the amount of variance accounted for by the first component for the anorexia nervosa group at stage two compared to stage one, the interpretation of this result was complicated by mixed result of the control group. The anorexia nervosa groups' daily experience of life was bleak when compared to the daily experience of the control group, except for periods when the anorexia nervosa participants experienced a flow state. DeVries (1992) has documented the success of therapeutic interventions that involve the identification and replication of activities that resulted in a flow state. This investigation suggests that a similar result may be possible in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

A qualitative approach was used to study the lived experiences of bereaved daughters who experienced childhood maternal loss due to cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine women. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and content analysis was used to find recurring themes. Twelve themes emerged: initial grief reactions to maternal loss, death becomes a real part of life, loss of mother projected into the future throughout life, integrating maternal loss, self before and after maternal loss, mother as part of myself, mother-daughter relationship, personal attributes that emerged from maternal loss, reaching age of maternal death, seeking maternal influence from other women, becoming a maternal/feminine influence for others, and change in relationship with father. Findings indicate that grieving maternal loss is a unique and individual process that has a profound impact on a young woman’s life by affecting her sense of self and relationships with others. Implications of findings are presented for health care professionals

Although many advances in the treatment of schizophrenia have been made over the past decade, little is known about the process of recovery from a first episode of schizophrenia (FES). To date, the study of recovery in the field of mental health has focused on long-term mental illness. This in depth qualitative study drew upon Charmaz’s (1990) constructivist grounded theory methodology to address the following questions: How do individuals who have experienced a FES describe their process of recovery? How does an identified individual (e.g. friend, family member, teacher, or clinician) describe their role during the participant’s process of recovery, and their perception of the recovery process? Ten primary participants (who self-identified as recovering from a FES) had two interviews; in addition, there was a one-time interview with a secondary participant, for a total of 30 interviews. Data collection sources included participant semi-structured interviews, participant selected personal objects that symbolized their recovery, and clinical records. The results provide a substantive theory of the process of recovery from a FES. The emergent process of recovery model for these participants is comprised of the following phases: ‘Lives prior to the illness’, ‘Lives interrupted: Encountering the illness’, ‘Engaging in services and supports’, ‘Re-engaging in life’, ‘Envisioning the future’; and the core category, ‘Re-shaping an enduring sense of self,’ that occurred through all phases. A prominent distinctive feature of this model is that participants’ enduring sense of self were reshaped versus reconstructed throughout their recovery. The emergent model of recovery from a FES is unique, and as such, provides implications for clinical care, future research, and policy development specifically for these young people and their families.

Public view removed at the authors request. 16/07/2006 / The daily experience of anorexia nervosa sufferers has not previously been studied and yet it is fundamental to understanding anorexia nervosa. This study examined and compared the daily experiences of anorexia nervosa patients and control participants in terms of sense of self, mood states and flow states. Flow is characterised by undivided concentration and interest in an activity for intrinsic benefits. Flow is not always desirable, as some ways of experiencing it may be harmful to the individual and society. Anorexia nervosa participants were recruited from hospitals and private practices of clinicians specialising in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Exclusion criteria included male gender, chronic anorexia nervosa, drug abuse, and current participation in an inpatient program. Anorexia nervosa participants completed a series of questionnaires at baseline, 3-6 month follow-up and 7-12 month follow-up (stage one, two and three respectively). The questionnaires were designed to measure the severity of their eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa and control group participants completed Experience Sampling Forms (ESF) and a Repertory Grid at baseline and 3-6 months. The ESFs were completed each time a pager was activated. The pager was activated seven times a day, for four days at random times between 8.00am and 10.00pm. The pager signals were a minimum of two hours apart. The Repertory Grid consisted of 23 constructs and 13 elements provided to the participant. Thirty-one anorexia nervosa sufferers and thirty-two control participants completed stage one and eighteen anorexia nervosa sufferers and twenty-seven control group participants completed stage two of the study. Eighteen anorexia nervosa sufferers completed stage three of the study. Control participants were not required to participate in stage three. There was no difference in the severity of anorexia nervosa between completers and drop-outs The analysis of the ESFs at stage one indicated that the anorexia nervosa group participants did not spend more time alone at home or more time alone in any situation than the control group. For both groups, being alone had a negative influence on mood state, but had no effect on sense of self. The anorexia nervosa group felt lonelier and less sociable than the control group. The mood state and sense of self for the anorexia nervosa group was significantly lower over all the ESFs when compared to the control group. They were also more self-critical, experienced higher levels of guilt, were less able to live up to their own expectations, and were less satisfied with their performance in the activity they were doing. The anorexia nervosa group experienced less flow states than the control group at stage one. There was an improvement in mood state, sense of self and self-criticism for the anorexia nervosa group when they were in a flow state compared to when they were not in a flow state. There was an improvement in mood state, sense of self, guilt and self-criticism for the control group when they experienced flow, however these differences were not significant. The anorexia nervosa group had a more positive mood state and sense of self at stage two when compared to stage one. Correspondingly, there was a trend towards a reduced severity of the disorder indicated by a significant improvement on some of the psychological tests (EAT, REDS, BDI, DT). There was also a significant improvement in BMI. However, there was a significant decline in the amount of flow of anorexia nervosa participants experienced at stage two when compared to stage one. This result may be attributed to the significant decline in the response rate on ESFs in the second stage of the study for both the anorexia nervosa and control groups. Anorexia nervosa non-responders at stage two reported more severe symptoms of anorexia nervosa than anorexia nervosa responders, although this was a trend and reached significance only on minor indicators of eating disorder severity. The identification of a factor that predicted severity over a six-month period was not possible. The repertory grid analysis showed that the construct system of the anorexia nervosa participants was tighter and less complex than that of the control group. The anorexia nervosa group construed themselves as dissimilar from the way they would like to be in any context. The control group construed themselves as similar to the way they would like to be when they were alone, but as dissimilar from the way they would like to be when they were with other people. While the most salient element for both the anorexia nervosa and control groups was 'alone at home', it appears that the controls use this time for goal-directed activities. In contrast, this time was dominated by fear of losing control for the anorexia nervosa group. Although there was a trend towards a decrease in the amount of variance accounted for by the first component for the anorexia nervosa group at stage two compared to stage one, the interpretation of this result was complicated by mixed result of the control group. The anorexia nervosa groups' daily experience of life was bleak when compared to the daily experience of the control group, except for periods when the anorexia nervosa participants experienced a flow state. DeVries (1992) has documented the success of therapeutic interventions that involve the identification and replication of activities that resulted in a flow state. This investigation suggests that a similar result may be possible in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

This paper is an attempt to combine my love of reading with my interest in education. My exploration of romance literature and its popular appeal is based on a developmental "bibliotherapy" approach to reading. Focusing on the adolescent girl in her identity crisis, I examine potential benefits and pitfalls that romance reading might hold for her as she grows toward an independent maturity and becomes involved in intimate relationships. Although it includes classroom observations, my project is not a data-based survey of adolescent girls and their reading habits; rather, it is a theoretical exploration of moral and pedagogical concerns which I have encountered through my experiences with teaching and reading. As such, it deals with issues of gender and genre and the role of the educator in the promotion of relevant texts during the transition years of adolescence. I rely on several eighteenth-century works--Radcliffe's popular gothic romance and Austen's satire of that genre (though Austen's novel, too, contains a moving romance); on Rousseau's Emile and Gilligan's feminist theories--to develop my thesis that romance reading can provide a landscape for sublimation and delay of early sexual experience; and that it is the educator's role to guide young girls in their reading to recognize the dangers of reification and to lead them toward a stronger sense of self. / Thesis / Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate factors that people with a past addiction problem expressed have promoted their recovery process. Method: This qualitative study is based on an inductive approach using the theory of sense of self. Data was collected through four [4] semi-structured interviews, a narrative based technique that focus on stories in a whole. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The thematic analysis resulted in three main themes; to be attractive, a new context and community, people and events that made an impression. Conclusion: The importance of gaining access to a new context, a context that contributed with alternative ways of life. A context where individuals can reflect themselves in other people's experiences with it a better or a more positive understanding of themselves and their situation. And that the recovery process from an overall perspective, shows the importance of meeting the many needs of the client.