This small exploratory study considers the use of the narrative approach in eliciting and understanding illness stories. The four participants, (two male and two female) range in age from 29 years to 74 years. They live with a variety of chronic illnesses (heart disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Pick's disease). Narrative analysis of the four semi-structured transcribed interviews revealed four dominant themes: the emotional reaction to diagnosis; the role of stress in aggravating and coping with chronic illness; a view of death; the meaning attributed to illness. / A postmodern perspective is employed to explicate the social construction of the notion of chronic illness. A critique of the medical discourse regarding chronic health challenges is offered. / This study invites social workers to consider their position of power and privilege as they learn new ways of listening to illness narratives.

The purpose of this secondary analysis of Malone's (1993) study was to identify formal and informal resources used by families with an adult son with chronic mental or physical illness. It also explored the identified perceptions of health care providers by the families in this study. This study was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & McCubbin, 1993).The sample population was patients who were receiving outpatient care from Valley Mental Health Center and University Hospital Neurology Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, and families which met certain criteria. The data of 42 respondents of the original 68 in Malone's (1993) study were perused for trends and themes about the use of formal and informal resources and perceptions of health care professionals using the process of secondary analysis.Findings revealed that the outpatients and families used six formal resources and seven informal resources. Family resources accounted for 44 percent of the total utilization of informal resources by the respondents. Hospital/clinics accounted for 24.3 percent of the total formal resources used by the respondents. Findings also revealed that perceptions of health care professionals by the respondents was negative.With the increase of chronic illnesses, the recommendations and implications for nursing identify that patient education in the future will undoubtedly be the most vital and crucial component to an individual's success/failure to adjust to the chronic illness. With the additional knowledge base, prevention of unnecessary anxiety related to the chronic illness would promote a more positive environment for the patient. In addition, both the patient and family could make that smooth transition into the adaptation phase and function effectively with the chronic mental or physical illness. / School of Nursing

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 340-375).

Thesis (Master of Science (Hons.) Social Ecology) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1994. / "A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Honours) in Social Ecology in the University of Western Sydney - Hawkesbury" Bibliography : leaves 288-300.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-130). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland at College Park, 1996. / Thesis research directed by the Dept. of Counseling and Personnel Services. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland at College Park, 1996. / Thesis research directed by the Dept. of Counseling and Personnel Services. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.

Die gesin is die sentrum waarbinne die kind se vorming tot volwaardige volwassenheid plaasvind. Indien een van die ouers met 'n chroniese fisieke siektetoestand gediagnoseer word, mag dit moontlike implikasies inhou vir die ouer, die kind, maar ook ander gesinslede. Die chroniese siektetoestand en die implikasies wat dit vir die siek persoon inhou is bestudeer. Daarbenewens is die dinamiek van die gesin, waarbinne die ouer en die kind met mekaar in interaksie is, ontleed. Om te bepaal wat die effek van die chroniese fisieke siektetoestand van die ouer op die kind is, is 'n literatuurstudie onderneem. Dit is daarna geverifieer met gevallestudies wat ondemeem is. Die gevallestudies het die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie bevestig. Dit blyk dat die chroniese siektetoestand van die ouer 'n invloed op die wording van die kind het. Die siektetoestand is 'n voortdurende stressor binne die gesin, wat veroorsaak dat kind(ers) affektiewe-, kognitiewe-, gedrags- en sosiale probleme manifesteer. Daar moet aanpassings gemaak word om die stres binne die gesin te minimaliseer. Riglyne is saamgestel om die terapeut, wat hierdie kind(ers) en gesinne begelei, te help. / The family is the system within which the child develops and eventually attains maturity. When a patient is diagnosed with chronic disease, it has certain implications not only for the parent, but also for children and other members of that family. A liteature study was undertaken to determine the impact of the chronically ill parent on the child. This study was then verified with specific case studies done by the author. These case studies confinned the findings of the literature study. It would seem that the chronic illness of a parent has a definite impact on the development of a child. The parent's illness is a constant stressor within the family, causing children to manifest affective, cognitive, behavioral as well as social problems. Certain adjustments have to be made to minimize stress within such a family. Guidelines are provided to assist the therapist in dealing with these children and families. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)