TY - BOOK

T1 - What are the experiences of caring for a loved one with a chronic condition?

AU - Smith, Laura

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - This thesis comprises of a literature review, a research paper and a critical appraisal of thethesis. The main focus of the thesis is on family members’ experiences of caring for lovedones with chronic illnesses. First, a thematic synthesis explored mothers’ experiences ofparenting a child with a chronic illness. Thirteen papers (comprising of twelve studies)exploring the experiences of 176 mothers to children with seven different chronic illnesseswere included in the synthesis. The thematic synthesis resulted in four themes: theoverarching and pervasive sense of responsibility; the altered maternal relationship: thetension between idealised and actual motherhood; counting the costs: dismissing one’s ownfeelings in order to maintain the ability to care; and becoming the expert. The aim of theresearch paper was to explore the experiences of partners of people with chronic pain.Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse ten semi-structured interviewsof eight men and two women. Five themes were identified: the process of acceptance andadjustment; the challenge of accessing effective support; pain as a personal, independent andmalignant force; loss and growth in the relationship; and controlling ones awareness as ameans of controlling the impact pain. The first two themes are already documented in thequalitative pain literature and therefore were not discussed in the research paper to allow formore detailed exploration of the novel findings. Finally, a critical appraisal extended thediscussion of the research paper and literature review by exploring in more detail thelimitations and how future research can further the current findings. Particular attention waspaid to the role of gender in the research findings.

AB - This thesis comprises of a literature review, a research paper and a critical appraisal of thethesis. The main focus of the thesis is on family members’ experiences of caring for lovedones with chronic illnesses. First, a thematic synthesis explored mothers’ experiences ofparenting a child with a chronic illness. Thirteen papers (comprising of twelve studies)exploring the experiences of 176 mothers to children with seven different chronic illnesseswere included in the synthesis. The thematic synthesis resulted in four themes: theoverarching and pervasive sense of responsibility; the altered maternal relationship: thetension between idealised and actual motherhood; counting the costs: dismissing one’s ownfeelings in order to maintain the ability to care; and becoming the expert. The aim of theresearch paper was to explore the experiences of partners of people with chronic pain.Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse ten semi-structured interviewsof eight men and two women. Five themes were identified: the process of acceptance andadjustment; the challenge of accessing effective support; pain as a personal, independent andmalignant force; loss and growth in the relationship; and controlling ones awareness as ameans of controlling the impact pain. The first two themes are already documented in thequalitative pain literature and therefore were not discussed in the research paper to allow formore detailed exploration of the novel findings. Finally, a critical appraisal extended thediscussion of the research paper and literature review by exploring in more detail thelimitations and how future research can further the current findings. Particular attention waspaid to the role of gender in the research findings.

KW - interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)

KW - Partners

KW - Experiences

KW - Chronic illness

KW - MOTHER

U2 - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/113

DO - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/113

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

PB - Lancaster University

ER -