M.Cur / Critical overweight is currently regarded as an epidemic by the World Health Organization (Hodgson, accessed 18 March 2007). It is one of the direct causes of illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as well as certain types of cancer. Socio-cultural influences play a role in the life of a critically overweight person. The role models that especially young girls and women see in the media are unrealistic (Fairburn en Brownell, 2002:103). Although there is a lot of information available regarding the intake of nutrients in order to address the physical dimension of a person, Villapiana and Goodman (2001:1) believe that the critically overweight person must change his/her behaviour. The following goals were kept in mind continually throughout the research: ๔ to explore and describe the experiences of the critically overweight person; and ๔ to create guidelines for the advanced psychiatric nurse in order for him/her to facilitate the mental health of the critically overweight person. The paradigmatic point of departure of the Department of Nursing at the University of Johannesburg (2006:2-7), as worded in the Theory for the Promotion of Health in Nursing, directs the study. A functional approach to nursing, according to Botesโ model (University of Johannesburg, School of Nursing Paradigm, 2006:9-12), was followed. The researcher conducted semi-structured phenomenological interviews (Holloway and Wheeler, 1996:2) with the critically overweight persons who met the criteria of the sample. Permission for the research was obtained from the University of Johannesburg, as well as the informed permission of the eight individuals who took part in the research. Trustworthiness was maintained by following strategies of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability (Lincoln en Guba, 1985:298-331). After the data had been analysed and a consensus conversation taken place, literature control was done in order to compare the results with that of other research. The researcher has come to the conclusion that the critically overweight person experiences a paradoxical process that is characterised by a dividedness relationship vii with the self, which then spreads to relationships with other people, as well as the environment. The inner struggle is experienced as anti-poles in which participants yearn for balance. Discord develops between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, with accompanying effects on mental health. The paradoxical process is maintained by factors that strengthen the dividedness and has certain effects that cause further discomfort for the critically overweight person. Guidelines were developed for the advanced psychiatric nurse to facilitate the mental health of the critically overweight person. Conclusions were made, limitations of the research pointed out and recommendations for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research made.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:6873 |
| Date | 08 June 2010 |
| Creators | Du Plooy, Ronel |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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