ABSTRACT
Various definitions, conceptualizations, and measurements of social support exist in literature. Consistently among these variations, the focus is on people. Companion animals are not included; however, reviews of both social support literature and human-animal bond literature shows that the two share a number of common functions. Using two case studies, the author demonstrates that the social support of companion animals is a legitimate and relevant source of support for persons with orthopedic disorders.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Animals, Domestic , Orthopedic Nursing , Orthopedics , Social Support , Adult , Animals , Cats , Female , Human-Animal Bond , Humans , Ligaments/injuries , United StatesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate how caregivers balance engagement with detachment to cope with cumulative demands and losses. DESIGN: Qualitative, descriptive. Population, formal and informal caregivers in the United States. A sample of 14 was studied between 1992 and 1994. METHODS: Data were collected in open-ended interviews, then were coded and analyzed using grounded-theory methods. Credibility and fittingness were established. RESULTS: Caregivers who balance engagement and detachment can affect outcomes without needing to control outcomes. Such caregivers are pragmatic and make conscious choices based on their emotional needs. They set and maintain limits and boundaries and are able to monitor the balancing process while recognizing the importance of practicing self-care. CONCLUSIONS: The longer and more intense a caregiver's involvement, the more important it is to learn to balance engagement and detachment. Caregivers may need to learn effective balancing skills.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Caregivers/psychology , Helping Behavior , Professional-Patient Relations , Adult , Humans , Middle Aged , Psychological Theory , Self CareSubject(s)
Education, Nursing/trends , Curriculum , Humans , Models, Educational , Models, Nursing , Organizational InnovationABSTRACT
The process gay persons use to manage the multiple losses and cumulative grief from losing lovers, friends, colleagues and clients to AIDS was explored. Interviews with gay individuals (n = 19) in a large urban area in the West provided data for conceptual coding and comparative analysis. Balancing engagement and detachment was identified as the basic social-psychological process that described how gay individuals struggled to reach an optimal balance in their involvement in the needs of individuals and the community. Four conceptual categories were identified: dysfunctional engagement, functional engagement, functional detachment and dysfunctional detachment. These four categories occur within the contexts of previous life style and redefinition of personal values.
