THE ESSENTIAL STRUCTURE AND MEANING OF RECOVERY FROM CLINICAL DEPRESSION FOR MIDDLE-ADULT, WHITE, HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATED, EMPLOYED, WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE LATE 1980'S: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY (WHITE WOMEN, MIDWESTERN).
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 245
Subjects: Health Sciences, Mental Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of conducting this study is to describe the structure and meaning of the experience of recovering from clinical depression for middle-adult white women in two Midwestern states.

A phenomenological method was designed and implemented. Twenty-two women who fit the criteria for this study were interviewed. The rights of the informants were protected. All of the women had been clinically depressed and were in the recovery stage as evidenced by their self evaluations and scores on the Beck Inventory. All of the women were able to articulate their lived experience of the phenomenon.

Data were generated using an unstructured, in depth, audio-tape recording of personal interviews. Informed consent for the taping and consent to contact their therapist, if necessary, were obtained prior to the interviews. The first interview was conducted over the phone to screen the volunteer informant to make certain she fulfilled the criteria for the study and to inform her about the study.

The focus of the interviews was on the phenomenological question concerning the meaning of the woman's experience of recovering from depression. The researcher's previous knowledge of the phenomenon was identified and bracketed prior to the interview and also during the analysis phase of the study. The data were analyzed using Spiegelberg's eight step protocol.

Scholarly Trustworthiness of this naturalistic study was maintained by leaving an audit trail to assure Validity, Truth value, Applicability, Consistency and Neutrality of the research study.

Five phases in the recovery process from depression were identified from analysis of the particulars in the data. The themes of these five phases were: Existential Alienation/Pain; Crises of Adulthood; First Turning Point; Second Turning Point; Becoming a Gardener.

The particulars/significant statements under each phase/theme were clustered and reduced to sub-themes. Sub-themes under phase one were, aloneness, abuse, and damaged self esteem. Sub-themes under phase two were, feelings and coping. Sub-themes under phase three were making connections and treatment experiences. Sub-themes under phase four were, becoming an agent and becoming a succorer. A sub-theme under phase five was cultivating the self.

This study provides insight for nurses into the phases a client goes through in the recovery process from depression. The nurse can use the client's perception of what was helpful and unhelpful and the tools they used to help themselves in recovering to give support, nurturance and care to enhance the recovery process for other depressed women.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-05, Section: B, page: 2496.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1991.

School code: 0227.