Basic Social Psychological Process Research Articles

Invisible Disabilities and Inequality

In this address, I consider the realized and potential contributions of sociological social psychology to research on inequality based on invisible disabilities and the challenges that invisible disabilities pose to current social psychological theories. Drawing from the social structure and personality framework, I advance the general notion of invisible disability as a dimension of inequality, consider how four basic social psychological processes (social categorization, identity, status, and stigmatization) have and can help us understand how invisible disabilities shape outcomes over the life course, and suggest new lines of research social psychologists could pursue. I close with brief comments about the benefits of such an agenda for sociological social psychology as well as how these lines of research can inform theories of stratification.

Impact of strengths model training and supervision on the therapeutic practice of Australian mental health clinicians.

This study explored the impact of Strengths Model training, supervision and mentorship on the practice of a group of multi-disciplinary mental health clinicians that included mental health nurses, social workers, psychologists, and occupational therapists. A qualitative approach that combined critical realism and grounded theory was used. The findings demonstrated how a substantive category, Getting to Know Clients Better, facilitated participants' progression through a basic social psychological process, Becoming a Strengths-Informed Practitioner. This process consisted of a discernible and sustained change towards more person-centred, hopeful, and recovery-oriented practice. The findings also described an underlying generative mechanism for this, the Client Becomes Visible, which accorded with theoretical models of empathy, based on enhanced cognitive processing. The strength-based approach to practice facilitated the establishment of a collaborative relationship and a stronger therapeutic alliance between the client and clinician. The research demonstrated that Strengths Model is an effective vehicle for improving recovery-orientated mental health services.

The Dimensions of the Structure of MSM with HIV toward the Prevention of HIV and AIDS Transmission: A Qualitative Study

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most vulnerable key population in the transmission of HIV AIDS. They have closed behavior that makes it difficult for health programs to reach. This study explores the structural dimensions of MSM with HIV in preventing HIV AIDS transmission from the perspective of social networks and associations among MSM with HIV. This qualitative study with a grounded theory approach was conducted in Jember. Data were collected by using in-depth interviews with 12 HIV-positive MSM. Data were analyzed with the stages of codes, categorizing, and basic social-psychological processes. The triangulation is used to obtain the validity of the information. Being an MSM group for a long time, related to social networks and associations. The social network perspective is built through gathering activities with fellow MSM communities, gathering in cafes, boarding houses, own homes, rented houses, town square, and night entertainment places. Providing health information, safe sex, asking for HIV tests, and monitoring ARV is more manageable through the same HIV-positive MSM. The involvement of HIV-positive MSM in social activities or other environments can reduce the stigma and discrimination. From the association's perspective, to facilitate the socialization of HIV AIDS prevention are carried out through social activities. A few HIV-positive MSM use herbal medicine and do not believe in ARV. Regular peer group support activities can provide a correct understanding of the importance of ARV to minimize the risk of loss to follow-up. Elements of social networks and associations through peer group supports involved in social activities can facilitate communication, information, and education; also, controlling sexual behavior prevents HIV AIDS transmission. The policymakers need to strengthen community-based associations.

Ethical tension in nursing education: achallenge for faculty values and beliefs.

The culture of the academic setting can be fraught with tension filled ethical situations challenging faculty relations with students and colleagues. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the process that occurs when nursing faculty encounter tension filled situations affecting their ethical values and beliefs in the education setting. A grounded theory approach was employed to achieve data saturation from interviews of thirteen faculty representing eight colleges/universities in three states of the MidAtlantic region of the United States. The Basic Social Psychological Process that emerged from the data demonstrated faculty efforts toward safeguarding profession, student, and self. Three concepts: experiencing, identifying, and resolving evolved. Data evidenced that ethical tension negatively influences one's work-life balance, and civility with faculty and students. Implications for balancing these influences and working toward a harmonious environment are provided.

Becoming a Channel of God: How Faith Community Nurses Develop Their Spiritual Practice.

This study explored the underlying process faith community nurses (FCNs) experience in developing their spiritual nursing practice. A qualitative, exploratory design was used. Data from interviews with six FCNs were generated and analyzed using Glaserian grounded theory. The basic social psychological process, cultivating the soul to become a channel of God, explains the steps these nurses take to achieve stages of presence. Going through these stages of presence, FCNs develop a foundation of God-related beliefs and values, presence with self, presence with God, presence with others, presence with God and others, and become a channel of God. Developing spiritual care competence in assessing and meeting clients' spiritual needs is necessary to enhance person-centered practice, a vital aspect of holistic care. The model of presence can inform the development of spiritual care competencies and link to other nursing theories including Watson's theory of caring and Benner's novice to expert theory. Workplace support is needed for nurses to refine spiritual nursing care practices and integrate spiritual care into practice. Further research regarding the stages of presence could foster deeper understanding of how foundations of God-related values develop.

National Stereotypes and Robots' Perception: The "Made in" Effect.

In the near future, the human social environment worldwide might be populated by humanoid robots. The way we perceive these new social agents could depend on basic social psychological processes such as social categorization. Recent results indicate that humans can make use of social stereotypes when faced with robots based on their characterization as “male” or “female” and a perception of their group membership. However, the question of the application of nationality-based stereotypes to robots has not yet been studied. Given that humans attribute different levels of warmth and competence (the two universal dimensions of social perception) to individuals based in part on their nationality, we hypothesized that the way robots are perceived differs depending on their country of origin. In this study, participants had to evaluate four robots differing in their anthropomorphic shape. For each participant, these robots were presented as coming from one of four different countries selected for their level of perceived warmth and competence. Each robot was evaluated on their anthropomorphic and human traits. As expected, the country of origin's warmth and competence level biased the perception of robots in terms of the attribution of social and human traits. Our findings also indicated that these effects differed according to the extent to which the robots were anthropomorphically shaped. We discuss these results in relation to the way in which social constructs are applied to robots.

Regaining normality: A grounded theory study of the illness experiences of Chinese patients living with Crohn’s disease

BackgroundCrohn’s disease is a chronic condition causing inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. Individuals suffering from this illness encounter various challenges and problems, but studies investigating the illness experiences of patients with Crohn’s disease in East Asian countries are scarce. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to explore the illness experiences of patients with Crohn’s disease in China and construct an interpretive understanding of these experiences from the perspective of the patients. DesignA constructivist grounded theory approach was used to develop a theoretical understanding of illness experiences. SettingsThis study included participants from the following four provincial capital cities in China: Hangzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Wuhan. ParticipantsPurposive sampling and theoretical sampling were used to select Chinese patients living with Crohn’s disease. MethodBetween February 2015 and January 2018, audio-recorded interviews were conducted. The data analysis included initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding using the constant comparative method and memo writing. ResultsThirty-one participants were included in the study. “Regaining normality” was identified as the core category. The following four categories were conceptualized: comparing, struggling, reflecting, and realizing. Comparing refers to distinguishing the similarities and differences or evaluating the superiority and inferiority of similar things. Comparisons could occur between patients with Crohn’s disease and healthy individuals or between patients and people in similar or more unfortunate situations. Struggling reflects the dilemmas experienced by patients with Crohn’s disease in acknowledging their patient identity and informing others of this identity. Reflecting refers to the consideration of the values and life attitudes held by patients before and after the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Realizing involves patients gaining a deeper understanding of the suffering associated with Crohn’s disease after experiencing the illness. ConclusionThis study offers an interpretive understanding of the illness experiences of patients with Crohn’s disease. Regaining normality represents the basic social psychological process. Regaining normality is related to reassessing and reconstructing the self after receiving a Crohn’s disease diagnosis. This paper provides new insight into patients’ lives and describes the strategies patients use to cope with the challenges and problems caused by the illness. These study findings can be used to develop future complex interventions and studies.

Growing a Professional Identity: A Grounded Theory of Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

The purpose of this study was to construct a grounded theory that describes the experiences and explains the process of prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students as they progressed in a traditional nursing program. Strauss and Corbin's approach to grounded theory was utilized to guide this study. The basic social psychological process (BSPP) for baccalaureate nursing students that emerged was "searching for balance and utilizing support networks while growing a professional identity." The core category identified was unanticipated expectations, whereas the subcategories that emerged were self-doubt, confidence, sacrifice, rigor, and relevance. To successfully progress through the program, students needed to relinquish preconceptions and acclimate to the academic and, ultimately, the professional nursing climate. Findings support and broaden previous research on the expectations and professional identity formation of nursing students. Understanding this BSPP process is beneficial for educators to promote a student-centered learning environment. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(12):705-711.].

The 3-Phase Process in the Cancer Experience of Adolescents and Young Adults.

When confronted with cancer, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) enter a psychosocial trajectory. Previous research has acknowledged the importance of care adjusted to the specific needs of AYAs. To develop AYA-focused care, in-depth knowledge about the experiences of AYAs with cancer is necessary. The purposes of this study were to discover the psychosocial experiences of and their meanings for AYAs enduring cancer, as well as its treatment and follow-up, and to capture the basic social psychological process that shaped these experiences. This was a qualitative study in which individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 23 participants aged 15 to 25 years. A 3-phase process was identified, which demonstrated alterations in the AYAs' experiences and their underlying meanings: (1) maintaining normal life was essential, (2) normal life was slipping away, and (3) evolving toward a new normal life after treatment. Certain core dynamics were present in these 3 phases. Throughout the cancer trajectory, the AYAs attempted to maintain control, redefine the self, and incorporate their cancer experience to the long-term course of life and had varying expectations of their social networks. Understanding the process that AYAs with cancer go through and taking into account their experiences can facilitate better psychosocial care for this emotionally vulnerable population. Healthcare professionals need to take a patient-centered approach, with a focus on communication, to meet the needs of AYAs throughout the cancer trajectory.

Trajectories on the path to reciprocity-A theoretical framework for collaborating with socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

The importance of cultivating connection to enhance individual, relational and collective well-being is gaining attention in the current literature on building community. Although these goals are being increasingly considered, the concept of reciprocity has been less prominent than may be warranted in the field of psychology. This article presents a theoretical framework on the dynamics of reciprocity which resulted from grounded theory (GT) research involving 2 complementary studies. The first study involved 22 participants from different socioeconomic backgrounds engaged in "reflecting-team with appreciative audiences" sessions (Madsen, 2007) in Portugal. The second study involved participant observation of 15 community programs recognized as good-practices in collaboration with socioeconomically disadvantaged participants, at national and international levels, across 9 countries. The theoretical framework emphasizes the centrality of building reciprocity for the development of individuals, families, communities, and programs. It integrates the trajectories of reciprocity; quadrants reflecting the standpoints assumed according to socioeconomic and cultural positions; basic social-psychological processes inherent to the process of building reciprocity; and characterizes different types of programs. The resulting framework is analyzed in relation to prior literature for a broader understanding of synergies and challenges, and the article concludes by suggesting implications for further research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record

Navigating the Faculty-Student Relationship: Interacting With Nursing Students With Mental Health Issues.

There is an increase in students enrolled in higher education diagnosed with mental illness or experiencing symptoms suggestive of mental health issues (MHI). This has a significant impact on the faculty-student relationship. The purpose of this study was to identify the basic social psychological process that occurs when nursing faculty interact with students with MHI. Grounded theory methodology was implemented to identify the basic social psychological process that occurs when faculty encounter students with MHI. Thirteen nursing faculty were interviewed. Data were analyzed using line by line coding and constant comparative analysis. The resulting substantive theory, navigating the faculty-student relationship in the context of student MHI, is an iterative four-phase process: noticing, responding, experiencing, and reflecting. This theory provides a framework for understanding how nursing faculty recognize and address student MHI. The theory can be used to establish interventional strategies and best practice guidelines.

Psychological factors affecting participation in cervical screening for young women: a qualitative study

BackgroundThere is a continuous decline in cervical cancer screening uptake, especially in young women, even though screening saves over 4500 lives annually in the UK. Psychological factors that could influence participation identified in previous studies included anxiety, embarrassment, and fear. The context of these factors is broad and ill-defined. This study aimed to unpick the deeper issues and factors affecting participation and non-participation in young women aged 25–34 years. MethodsThe method drew on the principles of grounded theory to understand how participants' form meanings and make decisions on issues such as screening. Maximum variation purposive sampling was used to recruit 26 participants from communities (cervical cancer screening call and recall register, three universities, community centre). Data were obtained by semi-structured interviews (16 participants) and a focus group (eight). Analysis aided by mind mapping software (MindGenius Business 6) led to the organisation of data into codes, themes, and categories. FindingsData analysis showed that sexual association was the core underlying category. This association was drawn from four elements: awareness, human issues, emotional attribution, and acceptability. Low awareness was mainly about screening procedure and body anatomy (location of the cervix). Overall, perception of the screening was positive and acceptability was expressed. Factors within emotional attribution and human issues were major impacts on screening behaviour and decision. Non-participation or delayed participation were strongly linked to the basic social psychological process, associating screening with sex, and created negative emotions such as embarrassment and anxiety. These associations included the screening procedure mimicking sex (penetration), the intrusive nature of screening (exposure, intimate, private), and sociocultural beliefs (promiscuity, taboo, and body insecurities). Screening that touched on fundamental human issues such as reproduction (infertility) and mortality (death from cancer) affected participation. These identified issues were sometimes unspoken and unconsciously influenced screening decision in some participants. InterpretationOur findings suggest that sexual association is a hidden issue affecting participation in cervical screening. This research is expected to inform future practices and policy implementation towards increasing screening uptake. Suggested service improvement strategies included alternative screening methods (eg, home self-testing), educating health professionals on sensitivity, and an invitation letter explaining in-depth details of the procedure. These changes could help improve the perception of screening among women of all ages. FundingNone.

Parents’ Experiences during their Infant’s Transition from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to Home: A Qualitative Study

Limited literature exists which examines how parents of infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) transition from their infant’s NICU hospital stay to home. This study examines the question, “What are the experiences of parents during their infant’s transition from the NICU to home? Grounded theory methods served as the paradigm to explore twelve NICU parents’ experiences during their infant’s transition. The basic social psychological process identified was “becoming a parent” which was based on the core problem “I’m not a parent.” Analysis of data contributed to a model described by the researchers as the resultant Model of Parental Progression that describes how the parents proceeded through their experiences of their infants’ transitions from the NICU to home.

Australian perioperative nurses’ experiences of assisting in multi-organ procurement surgery: A grounded theory study

Introduction/backgroundMulti-organ procurement surgical procedures through the generosity of deceased organ donors, have made an enormous impact on extending the lives of recipients. There is a dearth of in-depth knowledge relating to the experiences of perioperative nurses working closely with organ donors undergoing multi-organ procurement surgical procedures. AimThe aim of this study was to address this gap by describing the perioperative nurses experiences of participating in multi-organ procurement surgical procedures and interpreting these findings as a substantive theory. DesignThis qualitative study used grounded theory methodology to generate a substantive theory of the experiences of perioperative nurses participating in multi-organ procurement surgery. SettingRecruitment of participants took place after the study was advertised via a professional newsletter and journal. The study was conducted with participants from metropolitan, rural and regional areas of two Australian states; New South Wales and Western Australia. ParticipantsThirty five perioperative nurse participants with three to 39 years of professional nursing experience informed the study. MethodsSemi structured in-depth interviews were undertaken from July 2009 to April 2010 with a mean interview time of 60min. Interview data was transcribed verbatim and analysed using the constant comparative method. ResultsThe study results draw attention to the complexities that exist for perioperative nurses when participating in multi-organ procurement surgical procedures reporting a basic social psychological problem articulated as hiding behind a mask and how they resolved this problem by the basic social psychological process of finding meaning. ConclusionThis study provides a greater understanding of how these surgical procedures impact on perioperative nurses by providing a substantive theory of this experience. The findings have the potential to guide further research into this challenging area of nursing practice with implications for clinical initiatives, management practices and education.

Progressively Engaging

In this grounded theory study, informed by symbolic interactionism, we explain how nurses, patients, and family members construct relationships in acute care settings, including managing effects of work environments. We recruited participants from 10 acute care units across four community hospitals in a Western Canadian city. From 33 hr of participant observation and 40 interviews with 13 nurses, 17 patients, and 10 family members, we constructed the basic social-psychological process of progressively engaging. Nurses, patients, and family members approached constructing relationships through levels of engagement, ranging from perspectives about "just doing the job" to "doing the job with heart." Progressively engaging involved three stages: focusing on tasks, getting acquainted, and building rapport. Workplace conditions and personal factors contributed or detracted from participants' movement through the stages of the process; with higher levels of engagement, participants experienced greater satisfaction and cooperation. Progressively engaging provides direction for how all participants in care can invest in relationships.

Caregiving for a loved one with dementia at the end of life: an emergent theory of rediscovering.

Millions face the challenges of caregiving for a loved one with dementia. A classic Glaserian grounded theory methodology was used to discover the problem that caregivers of individuals with dementia face at the end of life and how they attempt to resolve that problem. Data were collected from a theoretical sample of 101 participants through in-person interviews, online interviews, book and blog memoirs of caregivers, and participant observation. Constant comparative method revealed a basic social psychological problem of role entrapment. Caregivers attempt to resolve this problem through a 5-stage basic social psychological process of rediscovering including missing the past, sacrificing self, yearning for escape, reclaiming identity, and finding joy. Health care professionals can support caregivers through this journey by validating, preparing caregivers for future stages, and encouraging natural coping strategies identified in this process. This study provides a substantive theory that may serve as a framework for future studies.

Awaiting diagnosis of breast cancer: strategies of enduring for preserving self.

To explicate the emotional experiences of women undergoing breast cancer diagnosis who are waiting for the results of breast biopsy. Glaserian Grounded Theory. Urban area in western Canada. 37 women aged 32-76 years. The breast cancer diagnosis was positive for 11 women, negative for 24 women, and two results were unclear. Unstructured, recorded telephone interviews. Undergoing breast cancer diagnosis is a profoundly distressing experience dictated by diagnostic processes and procedures. Women rapidly transitioned from wellness to frightening phases of facing cancer to continuing terror during the testing phase. While waiting to hear results, women controlled their emotions, which enabled them to get through the experience and highlighted the protective function of enduring and its necessity for survival. The basic social psychological process, preserving self, is the outcome of enduring. A mid-range theory, Awaiting Diagnosis: Enduring for Preserving Self, was developed. This theory explicates the emotional responses of women who were undergoing diagnosis for breast cancer and provides a theoretical behavioral basis for responding to cues and signals of suffering. The Praxis Theory of Suffering enables nurses to recognize and respond according to the behaviors of suffering, and to endure with healthy, adaptive, and normalizing behaviors that enable preserving self.

Nursing staff connect libraries with improving patient care but not with achieving organisational objectives: a grounded theory approach.

Health organisations are often driven by specific targets defined by mission statements, aims and objectives to improve patient care. Health libraries need to demonstrate that they contribute to organisational objectives, but it is not clear how nurses view that contribution. To investigate ward nursing staff motivations, their awareness of ward and organisational objectives; and their attitudes towards the contribution of health library services to improving patient care. Qualitative research using focus group data was combined with content analysis of literature evidence and library statistics (quantitative data). Data were analysed using thematic coding, divided into five group themes: understanding of Trust, Ward and Personal objectives, use of Library, use of other information sources, quality and Issues. Four basic social-psychological processes were then developed. Behaviour indicates low awareness of organisational objectives despite patient-centric motivation. High awareness of library services is shown with some connection made by ward staff between improved knowledge and improved patient care. There was a two-tiered understanding of ward objectives and library services, based on level of seniority. However, evidence-based culture needs to be intrinsic in the organisation before all staff benefit. Libraries can actively engage in this at ward and board level and improve patient care by supporting organisational objectives.

Trialing to Pain Control: A Grounded Theory

The aim of this study was to examine the basic social psychological process of managing inadequately relieved pain in adults. Transcribed data from 23 ambulatory medical visits of adults with pain and interviews with four practitioners and four patients with pain were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. The basic problem was perception of running out of treatment options. Trialing was the process used to resolve the problem and consisted of four phases: finding the right practitioner, initiating the trial, adjusting treatments, and continuing to monitor with the patient taking control over the pain. Failure to achieve control over pain occurred when providers were unclear or failed to listen or when patients disagreed about treatment. Improving patient-provider communication may enhance trialing.

Conflict and Change

Conflict and Change