「和而不同」的生病事件建構：以對偶關係探究腸造口癌症患者及其照顧者的心理生活經驗
Journal
本土心理學研究
Journal Issue
32
Pages
251-325
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
陳玫蓉
Abstract
This paper explores the psychosocial reactive experiences and lifestyles of cancer survivors, and the caring experiences and coping strategies of their primary caregivers using participant observation, interviews, and interpretive phenomenology. Five patient-caregiver dyads (4 male and 1 female patients; 4 female and 1 male care-givers) were interviewed an average of 2.4 times each at a hospital in southern Taiwan over a 2-year period. The average duration of illness was 16.2 months. The average duration of care was 14.6 months. In the last interview, the depression scale was administered to the cancer patients as an adaptation index after a chronic illness. Results showed cancer patients and their caregivers shared a similar psychosocial process. After the cancer event, they both felt their biographies could be narrated metaphorically. They felt 'The life trajectory is out of the daily rotines'. Through the narrative line, the life trajectory could be drawn to the routined order as before. However, the cancer assaulted their lived world; their life story changed ontologically. The patients and their caregivers constructed different lifestyles from each other, which not only presented limitations, but also revealed their adaptations for the patients. But from the caregivers' view, the illness caring experiences might be the burden processes for the maladaptive dyad. The analysis showed that a sense of we-ness can enhance mutual intimacy and empower a relationship. By enacting the we-ness care pattern, the clinical psychologist and related mental health workers could offer healing by taking care of their biological, social, and psychological needs and ensure positive new trajectories.
SDGs
Type
journal article