Chronic illness impacts numerous families in the United States. Children
are increasingly among those affected by a chronic illness. The families undergo
trials and experiences that tax their coping skills and require extensive coping
strategies.
This research project explored how families cope with chronic illness in
one of the children in the family. The objective of the research project was to use
the method of case study to examine the everyday lives, perceptions, and coping
strategies of the family members as they deal with the realities of the effects of a
childÂs illness on a daily basis. Three families were studied using the case study
format. Through interviews, observations, and investigation of data, the
researcher gathered pertinent information about the participants lives and
experiences.
Emergent themes were identified from the facts gathered. These themes
included information and suggestions that various participants offered. Included
among the emergent themes were the following titles: alarming environment,
redefined realities, relational requests, valuable individual, coping concoctions, as well as awareness and advocacy. The studyÂs emergent themes were divided
into numerous subcategories. The multiple realities that the family members face
is evidenced in the number of issues and themes that emerged from the study.
This research project gives additional insight into the reality of the lives of
families experiencing chronic illness in one of the children. Suggestions and
observations by the participants could be useful for family, friends, medical
professionals, educational systems, and support groups that interact with families
facing similar trials. The descriptive style of the study lends itself to the vicarious
interaction of the reader to the circumstances of the participants. This format
allows the reader to transfer knowledge to his or her own experiences. The study
could further be useful by offering detail to the existing knowledge base, in
addition to aiding in the development of theory.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/3914 |
| Date | 16 August 2006 |
| Creators | McGough, Marnique |
| Contributors | Nash, William R. |
| Publisher | Texas A&M University |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | 1132657 bytes, electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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