Adaptation to suffering. Meaning and implications for nursing

Nurses daily encounter persons who are suffering, but few have studied the suffering experience. Although the phenomena has been observed in the clinical setting, scientific inquiry has been limited. The meaning of suffering was explored through semistructured interviews with 20 subjects who had multiple sclerosis. The adaptation to suffering model provided the conceptual framework for this qualitative study. Stressors (e.g., problems associated with multiple sclerosis) and strategies perceived as helpful were identified. Subjects' responses about their suffering experiences followed an hierarchical progression from shock and denial through acceptance and understanding to finding meaning in their suffering. Rank ordering of responses illustrated the components of adaptation and how they changed with duration of illness. Findings provided support for the theoretical model and the importance of assisting clients to find meaning in their suffering experiences.