Meanings of being received and met by others as experienced by women with MS

Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2011 Mar 7;6(1). doi: 10.3402/qhw.v6i1.5769.

Abstract

In order to elucidate meanings of being received and met by others as experienced by women with multiple sclerosis (MS) we conducted a qualitative inquiry. We interviewed 15 women with MS and analysed the interviews with a phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation. The findings were presented in two themes: experiencing oneself as a valuable person and experiencing oneself as diminished. Meanings of being received and met by others, as experienced by women with MS, can be understood as containing two dimensions where treatment from others can mean recognising oneself through confirmation, as well as being ignored due to missing togetherness with others.

Keywords: Interviews; being received and met; lived experience; multiple sclerosis; nursing; women.