Psychosocial Adjustment of Young Adult to Hemophilia: Living like a Normal Person.
10.4040/jkan.2003.33.7.875
- Author:
Myung Sun YI
1
;
Won Ok KIM
;
Hyun Sook KANG
Author Information
1. College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Korea. donam@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Hemophilia;
Social adjustment
- MeSH:
Data Collection;
Focus Groups;
Grounded Theory;
Hemophilia A*;
Humans;
Methods;
Mothers;
Quality of Life;
Social Adjustment;
Young Adult*
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2003;33(7):875-884
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To explore how young adults in their 20s adjust to hemophilia. METHOD: Grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. A purposeful sample of 15 young adults with hemophilia participated during the period of 2000-2001. The data were collected by semi-structured individual interviews, focus group interviews, and participant observations. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Constant comparative analysis was employed to analyze the data. RESULT: "Living like a normal person" emerged as the basic social-psychological process. Two dimensions of the self were identified: normal self and abnormal self. "Living like a normal person" means conscious effort to focus on normal self rather than abnormal self. Five subcategories were identified : 1) pretending as if he is not hemophiliac; 2) relieving the burden; 3) maintaining best physical conditions; 4) becoming independent; and 5) reconciliating with their mothers. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that young adults with hemophilia strive for living a life as a normal person. But there is a question whether it is good for their ultimate quality of life. The results indicate that our society needs to be more tolerant to differences that hemophiliacs have.
