Separation is a universal human health experience. Human beings living the paradoxical unity of separating-connecting cocreate rhythmical patterns of relating in open exchange with the universe.
The purpose of this study was to understand the struct...
Separation is a universal human health experience. Human beings living the paradoxical unity of separating-connecting cocreate rhythmical patterns of relating in open exchange with the universe.
The purpose of this study was to understand the structure of lived experience of separation of adolescents upon being admitted to psychiatric unit. The research question was “what is the structure of the separation experience of adolescent on being admitted to a psychiatric ward?”. The concept of separation was developed by a concept analysis (Walker, Avant) and by Grounded theory Methodology through interviewing patients and their families. The theory guiding this study was Parse’s Human Becoming theory of nursing and the methodology was Parse’s research methodology (Parse, 1987: Parse, 1992).
The study was conducted from March 31, 1991 to April 20, 1992. Research participants were selected from among adolescents admitted to the psychiatric ward of a general hospital in a provincial capital in Korea.
Following the Human Becoming research methodology through Dialogical Engagement between the nurse-investigator and the participant, the taped records of the dialogical engagements were transcribed. Sampling was discontinued when the data were theoretically saturated. The data were analyzed by extraction-synthesis. Six structures of the separation experience were identified.
1. Separating is expressed verbally and non-verbally all-at-once as the past, present, and the not-yet.
2. Separating is experienced physically and connecting is experienced emotionally.
3. Separating promotes the transformation of the environment through a changing view of the world and human beings.
4. Separating increases understanding of the self within human relationships.
5. Separating is struggling powerfully with external forces.
6. Separating is valuing action chosen by oneself.
These structures were integrated conceptually as follows;
1. The lived experience of separation is expanding one’s worldview and specifying reality in a paradoxical unity of separating-connecting.
2. The lived experience of separation is widening human relationships and seeking freedom while pushing against the existing environment.
The conceptual interpretation through Parse’s Human Becoming theory is stated as:
Separation becomes transforming through the languaging of connecting-separating toward powering with the revealing-concealing of valuing.
This study contributed to nurses’ understanding of the live experience of separation lived by the young person admitted to a psychiatric treatment unit. Implications for nursing theory and its development, nursing research, education and practice were discussed. Further research with other persons and families experiencing separation in other situations using Parse’s Human Becoming theory of Nursing, research methodology and practice methodology were recommended.