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Revisiting biographical disruption : exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer.

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Revisiting biographical disruption : exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer. / Reeve, Joanne; Lloyd-Williams, Mari; Payne, Sheila et al.
In: Health, Vol. 14, No. 2, 03.2010, p. 178-195.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Reeve J, Lloyd-Williams M, Payne S, Dowrick C. Revisiting biographical disruption : exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer. Health. 2010 Mar;14(2):178-195. doi: 10.1177/1363459309353298

Author

Reeve, Joanne ; Lloyd-Williams, Mari ; Payne, Sheila et al. / Revisiting biographical disruption : exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer. In: Health. 2010 ; Vol. 14, No. 2. pp. 178-195.

Bibtex

@article{858774b24d91437dae5311415e64c252,
title = "Revisiting biographical disruption : exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer.",
abstract = "Biographical accounts of illness offer useful insights into the social and adaptive processes of living with chronic illness. Yet there are concerns that the underlying theoretical assumptions of a reflexive self seeking to maintain meaning may not reflect the lived experience of individuals. A narrative emphasis may neglect the importance of emotional/felt experiences; while an analytical focus on disruptive processes may not adequately reflect the totality of actual events. In this study, we explored how well biographical theory supports understanding of individual lived experience. Narratives from 19 individuals identified from General Practice lists with a terminal diagnosis of cancer were analysed using the holistic-form approach described by Lieblich. Participants described an ongoing process of living their life, {\textquoteleft}managing{\textquoteright} disruptive events and maintaining an overall sense of well-being (narrative form = biographical flow). For a minority, continuity was lost when people{\textquoteright}s capacity to continue living their everyday lives was overwhelmed (narrative form = fracture). The identified emphasis was on individual creative capacity in the face of terminal illness, highlighting the importance of embodied experience in understanding outcome and need. Maintaining continuity was draining: exhaustion precipitated fracture and thus need for external help to restore continuity. By focusing on feelings associated with overall narrative form, rather than individual disruptive events, we highlight the context in which disruptive events are experienced, and individual perceptions of their relative importance. We conclude that combining narrative and emotion offers new insights into the value of understanding of biographical accounts of illness in the context of individual creative capacity. We discuss the possibilities for new approaches to clinical assessment and management of need.",
keywords = "biographical disruption • emotions • palliative care • creative capacity",
author = "Joanne Reeve and Mari Lloyd-Williams and Sheila Payne and Christopher Dowrick",
year = "2010",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1177/1363459309353298",
language = "English",
volume = "14",
pages = "178--195",
journal = "Health",
issn = "1461-7196",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Revisiting biographical disruption : exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer.

AU - Reeve, Joanne

AU - Lloyd-Williams, Mari

AU - Payne, Sheila

AU - Dowrick, Christopher

PY - 2010/3

Y1 - 2010/3

N2 - Biographical accounts of illness offer useful insights into the social and adaptive processes of living with chronic illness. Yet there are concerns that the underlying theoretical assumptions of a reflexive self seeking to maintain meaning may not reflect the lived experience of individuals. A narrative emphasis may neglect the importance of emotional/felt experiences; while an analytical focus on disruptive processes may not adequately reflect the totality of actual events. In this study, we explored how well biographical theory supports understanding of individual lived experience. Narratives from 19 individuals identified from General Practice lists with a terminal diagnosis of cancer were analysed using the holistic-form approach described by Lieblich. Participants described an ongoing process of living their life, ‘managing’ disruptive events and maintaining an overall sense of well-being (narrative form = biographical flow). For a minority, continuity was lost when people’s capacity to continue living their everyday lives was overwhelmed (narrative form = fracture). The identified emphasis was on individual creative capacity in the face of terminal illness, highlighting the importance of embodied experience in understanding outcome and need. Maintaining continuity was draining: exhaustion precipitated fracture and thus need for external help to restore continuity. By focusing on feelings associated with overall narrative form, rather than individual disruptive events, we highlight the context in which disruptive events are experienced, and individual perceptions of their relative importance. We conclude that combining narrative and emotion offers new insights into the value of understanding of biographical accounts of illness in the context of individual creative capacity. We discuss the possibilities for new approaches to clinical assessment and management of need.

AB - Biographical accounts of illness offer useful insights into the social and adaptive processes of living with chronic illness. Yet there are concerns that the underlying theoretical assumptions of a reflexive self seeking to maintain meaning may not reflect the lived experience of individuals. A narrative emphasis may neglect the importance of emotional/felt experiences; while an analytical focus on disruptive processes may not adequately reflect the totality of actual events. In this study, we explored how well biographical theory supports understanding of individual lived experience. Narratives from 19 individuals identified from General Practice lists with a terminal diagnosis of cancer were analysed using the holistic-form approach described by Lieblich. Participants described an ongoing process of living their life, ‘managing’ disruptive events and maintaining an overall sense of well-being (narrative form = biographical flow). For a minority, continuity was lost when people’s capacity to continue living their everyday lives was overwhelmed (narrative form = fracture). The identified emphasis was on individual creative capacity in the face of terminal illness, highlighting the importance of embodied experience in understanding outcome and need. Maintaining continuity was draining: exhaustion precipitated fracture and thus need for external help to restore continuity. By focusing on feelings associated with overall narrative form, rather than individual disruptive events, we highlight the context in which disruptive events are experienced, and individual perceptions of their relative importance. We conclude that combining narrative and emotion offers new insights into the value of understanding of biographical accounts of illness in the context of individual creative capacity. We discuss the possibilities for new approaches to clinical assessment and management of need.

KW - biographical disruption • emotions • palliative care • creative capacity

U2 - 10.1177/1363459309353298

DO - 10.1177/1363459309353298

M3 - Journal article

VL - 14

SP - 178

EP - 195

JO - Health

JF - Health

SN - 1461-7196

IS - 2

ER -