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The lived experience of self-transcendence in women with AIDS
1University of Texas at Austin 78701, USA.
Objective:
To describe the lived experience of self-transcendence in women with AIDS, associated with increased sense of meaning and purpose, well-being, self-esteem, and connectedness with self and/or others.
Design:
Exploratory-descriptive, using phenomenological research methods for the study approach, data collection, and data analysis.
Setting:
One written description and nine audiotaped interviews of self-transcendence experiences were provided by women with class IV HIV infection (AIDS).
Participants:
Ten women recruited by nurses at an AIDS family clinic and through a flyer at the AIDS Support Group House in Seattle.
Outcomes:
Participant descriptions indicated that women with AIDS continue to find meaning and purpose in their lives through experiences of receiving from others, giving to others, and maintaining hope.
Results:
The findings support the theory that self-transcendence views and behaviors are a source of mental health at the end of life.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest several ways nurses may help women with AIDS discover or make meaning and purpose in their lives.