BALANCING: AN EXPANDING CONCEPT OF HEALTH IN YOUNG ADULT MALES (MEN).
Contributors: Boston College.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 161
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Human Development.
Description: Health has been identified as a major component of nursing's metaparadigm (Fawcett, 1980). Researchers have identified the need to clarify the concept of health as it relates to health protection and health promotion (Anderson, Davies, Kickbusch, McQueen & Turner, 1988; Stachtchenko & Jenick, 1990). Models of health have been developed; however, there is little information on health's meaning from the perspective of the individual. The purpose of this study was to develop a grounded substantive theory relevant to the meaning of health for young adult males. This research did not assume an existing meaning of health, but rather allowed the conceptualization of health to emerge from personal accounts of individuals by using the grounded theory method.

Sample recruitment, data collection, and data analysis occurred over a 6 month period. The target group was a convenience sample of adults between the ages of twenty to thirty-five who participated in a tape recordered in-depth interview. Reliability of data collection and analysis was ensured by transcribing all audio recordings verbatim. Data analysis was performed utilizing the constant comparative method of analysis as defined by Glaser and Strauss (1967). Balancing emerged as the core concept. Three other major areas emerged: energy, context, and pattern. Manifested as action, energy provides the force to move, think, and feel. Energy gives the individual the ability to move forward to more complex/diverse levels of self. Context is the meaning derived from an interaction of a multiplicity of variables. Multiple interactive variables identified as context included socioeconomical, physiological, and psychological. Expressions of pattern were identified as responses and behaviors. Responses include relating, striving, controlling, perceiving, focusing, and reenergizing. Behaviors include working, exercising, learning, releasing, eating, and sleeping. The core concept of balancing was found to be basic social psychological process (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). The five stages of balancing are (1) identifying options; (2) attaching meaningfulness of each option in relation to person; (3) choosing an option in light of influencing factors; (4) behaving for an increased well being; (5) evaluating action which may lead back to a renewal of the process.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-09, Section: B, page: 4595.

Thesis (PH.D.)--BOSTON COLLEGE, 1992.

School code: 0016.