Emotional Journey Research Articles

“Warm Fuzzies” in Healing: The Tradition of Embodied Body Touching in Folk Medical Encounters

Human touch (“warm fuzzy”) has a tremendous potential to communicate and heal. Although body touching is measured and conditioned in the clinical world, in the folk tradition, it is spontaneous and grounded in experiences of intersubjectivity. Watching numerous medical encounters in an Indian rural setting, we confirm haptic modalities are not just therapeutic but help patients and healers to deeply engage in intersubjective interactions. It is an emotional journey of patients and healers who come close to each other through the sequential process of experiencing “being-apart-from-oneanother,” followed by the feeling of “being-with-one-another,” “being-withinone-another,” and finally “being-for-one-another.” We believe intersubjectivity is the key to healing that starts with free body touching; it is the healing praxis of modern times.

‘Removed With the Stroke of a Pen’: The Hidden Impact of Placement Disruptions on Foster Parents in Norway

ABSTRACTThis study explores the emotional impact of unplanned removals of foster children on foster parents in Norway. It aims to understand their experiences and identify the support they need during these challenging transitions. We employed a descriptive phenomenological approach. Fouteen in‐depth interviews with 11 foster parents were conducted at various stages (before/during/after abrupt removal), revealing three key phases shaping their emotional journey: (1) the downward spiral leading to removal, (2) in the midst of the crisis: two diverging pathways and (3) the aftermath: unresolved grief versus recovery. Foster parents often felt rejected, unacknowledged and deeply wounded by the separation, particularly when excluded from decision‐making. Two contrasting post‐removal pathways emerged: one marked by recovery, supported through continued contact with the foster child and emotional assistance, and another characterized by enduring unresolved grief, with feelings of abandonment and personal guilt. The study underscores the need for more comprehensive and empathetic support, including transparent communication, follow‐up care and opportunities to maintain contact with foster children. The conclusions suggest that child welfare services should consider a more human‐centred approach, with a particular focus on promoting resilience and emotional recovery for foster parents.

Exploring Cinematic Space, Mobility, and Identity in Malayalam Road Cinema: A Case Study of Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi

This study investigates the use of cinematic space in Sameer Thahir's 2013 malayalam road film Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi. The study examines how the protagonists' travels across various locations—from the lush landscapes of Kerala to the harsh deserts of Rajasthan and the rocky terrain of Ladakh—contribute to the main themes of freedom, mobility, and self-discovery. In order to examine how the route and the physical surroundings mirror the characters' emotional and psychological journeys, the article employs theories of cinematic space. This study examines how the film employs landscapes as active elements that shape the story arc and character development, rather than just as backdrops, through the prism of space. The study makes the case that traveling through these many locations represents personal development both literally and figuratively, which deepens our comprehension of the role that space plays in road films.

Investigating Psychological Adaptations of Parents to Childhood Disabilities

Objective Parenting a child with a disability presents unique challenges and necessitates psychological adaptation. This study explores the psychological adaptations of parents to childhood disabilities. Materials & Methods A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 26 parents of children with disabilities in Richmond Hill, Ontario in 2023. Theoretical saturation was achieved to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the experiences. Meanwhile, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis, facilitated by NVivo software. Results Four main themes were identified: Emotional journey, coping strategies, family dynamics, and social and community support. The emotional journey theme included initial reactions of shock and adaptation over time, leading to grief acceptance and positive reappraisals. The coping strategies theme involved seeking information, building a support network, professional support, personal coping mechanisms, and advocacy. Family dynamics revealed changes in family roles, sibling relationships, and marital/partner relationships. Finally, the social and community support theme highlighted the importance of community involvement, access to resources, public perception and stigma, and inclusion and accessibility. Conclusion This study demonstrates parents’ complex and dynamic psychological adaptations to childhood disabilities. It underscores the importance of comprehensive support systems that address the emotional, practical, and social needs of families. The findings highlight the resilience of parents and the necessity for targeted interventions to support their well-being and facilitate positive adaptation.

Exploring the professional identity process of university social responsibility courses' rural service programs on nursing students: A multi-method research.

Exploring the professional identity process of university social responsibility courses' rural service programs on nursing students: A multi-method research.

Romance Formula in Zoulfa Katouh’s Novel As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow

Romance formula is one of the genres that we often encounter around us. The novel As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh is one of the novels that represent a romance formula. This research aims to analyze the romance formula in Zoulfa Katouh's As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow and to determine how the novel conforms to Janice A. Radway's theory of the ideal romance narrative structure. This research uses a qualitative approach with narrative analysis to examine the novel's conformity to Radway's 13 functions of the ideal romance. The result of this research shows that the novel As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow fulfills 13 functions of ideal romance, according to Janice A. Radway. The findings demonstrate how the characters’ emotional journeys and the narrative progression align with Radway's theoretical framework. Additionally, the research highlights the cultural and social dynamics embedded in the romance formula, offering insight into how it reflects broader societal themes. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the adaptability and relevance of the romance genre in contemporary literature.

The Representation of Personal Resilience in Ghea Indrawari's Song Terima Kasih Sudah Bertahan: A Semiotic Analysis

Terima Kasih Sudah Bertahan is a song by Ghea Indrawari that narrates an emotional journey and personal experiences in facing life’s challenges. This study aims to analyze the representation of personal resilience in the song through three aspects: commitment, control, and challenge, using Roland Barthes' semiotic approach. The research data includes verbal texts (song lyrics) and nonverbal texts (visuals from the music video) sourced from the YouTube channel HITS Records – Music Video Terima Kasih Sudah Bertahan. Data collection techniques involved listening, note-taking, and screenshot methods. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, focusing more on meaning-making than generalization. The findings reveal that the representation of personal resilience in this song is portrayed through a strong commitment to endure and not give up, effective self-control in facing difficulties, and challenges faced with courage and determination.

Transitional identities: challenges and coping mechanisms of Israeli gay fathers during assisted reproductive technologies

ABSTRACT Background The rise in gay fatherhood, facilitated by advancements in surrogacy, has led to increased research on the well-being of gay fathers. However, there is limited understanding of how these fathers experience and cope with the psychological challenges of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), especially in specific cultural contexts like Israel. Objective This study examines the experiences and coping strategies of Israeli gay fathers using transnational surrogacy, applying liminality as a framework to understand their navigation of the ART process. Method Semi-structured interviews with 22 Israeli gay fathers were analysed using thematic analysis, to identify patterns related to their challenges and coping mechanisms. Results Participants described a complex emotional journey involving phases of separation, uncertainty, and transformation. Key challenges during pregnancy included feelings of limited control due to physical distance from the surrogate, concerns over control, and cultural and linguistic barriers. Coping strategies involved normalising detachment, seeking professional support, and reframing relationships with surrogates. Transitioning to fatherhood brought both anxiety and joy, improving relationships with families who had previously struggled to accept their sexual identity, and enabling greater social acceptance and a renewed sense of identity. Conclusions Our findings highlight the challenges of navigating status changes and transitional phases, emphasising the difficulties inherent in liminality. The study sheds light on adaptive coping strategies and underscores the importance of supportive networks for gay fathers undergoing ART. It also emphasises the role of cultural context in shaping these experiences, suggesting further research to deepen the understanding of gay fatherhood through ART.

Emotion, Empathy, and Sense of Connection: The Application of Letter Writing in Interior Design Studio

This paper explores the application of letter writing as a reflective practice in interior design education. As a method for generating data and triggering a narrative, letter writing captures and demonstrates the author’s identity, empathy, and emotionality. In a senior design studio focusing on adaptive reuse, students were asked to write letters to the site, a historic church that partially burnt in the 1980s, left vacant, and under threat of demolition. The intent of assigning letter writing was to capture interior design students’ emotions and ways of knowing, activate empathy, and cultivate their sense of connection to the historic place. Forty-five students participated in the study, each writing two letters—one after the site visit at the beginning of the design process, and the other after completing the design work. These letters detailed students’ site visit experiences, their understanding of the building’s history, observations of design elements, design strategies, challenges, and accomplishments. Using constructivist grounded theory, the analysis of these letters revealed the students’ emotional journey throughout the design process: sensing and triggering emotions, uncovering and expressing emotions, transforming emotions into design thoughts, and finally, building a sense of connection. This research enhances our understanding of interior design students’ emotional characteristics and highlights the benefits of letter writing in fostering empathy and designers’ connection with history, place, and local communities. It reveals the potential of letter writing to uncover the “covered” emotions in interior design education and practice, enriching the field’s “unique and non-supplemental identity” and contributing to its legitimacy and recognition.

Propositions for improving the emotional journey of patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support: a highly constrained scenario

Mechanical circulatory support is a major intervention for patients with heart failure. There are numerous negative experiential and emotional consequences associated with the treatment. However, the treatment is necessary for saving and extending patient lives. Previous device development has focused on function and safety. In this study, we aimed to understand the treatment at the level of the patient’s emotional journey, and to develop propositions for improving their experiences in ways that account for the unavoidable aspects of the care. Nine patients and two caregivers were recruited for in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data analysis comprised the extraction and organization of information - to define treatment stages, and journey mapping - to describe emotions. Propositions could not be readily inferred from the journey map alone, because the proximate causes of negative emotions were necessary parts of treatment. Therefore, thematic analysis of the interviews was undertaken to interpret abstracted emotional needs. Themes were developed from the emotional journey which transcended the touchpoints that inspired them. In this way, propositions were developed that could mitigate the negative emotional consequences of the patient journey without eliminating their necessary causes. Five propositions were identified, for mitigating: agency deficits, insufficient preparation, liminality, reduced resilience, and increased burden.

Stairway to heaven: An emotional journey in Divina Commedia with threshold-based Naïve Bayes classifier

Stairway to heaven: An emotional journey in Divina Commedia with threshold-based Naïve Bayes classifier

Barsha Basanta Baisakha: A Text Bridging Women and Nature

The paper entitled "Barsha Basanta Baisakha: A text that conjoins women and nature" examines the interplay between femininity and nature, examining the profound links between female selfhood and natural world in the Odia novel Barsha Basanta Baisakha by Pratibha Ray. Woman and nature both complement each other. The relationship between the two has been prevailing since time immemorial. A woman is soft, bright and strong just like nature. At times, she embodies the fierce nature of Rudra. But it is astonishing to find that a woman's life is tied to a thread and that piece of thread is controlled by a man. From youth to old age, she undergoes male dominance despite her reluctance. The protagonist of the novel reflects these cycles, with her maturation dissected from both a physical and spiritual continuum of growth with the alternation of seasons. The text explores the deeper cultural and spiritual ethos of Indian society through the vivid portrayal of seasons—Barsha (rain), Basanta (spring), and Baisakha (summer). Ray weaves a metaphorical tapestry of nature cycles to the emotional, psychological and societal journey of women. It paints readers with the message of cycles of fertility, rebirth, metamorphosis and resilience of life at large. These comparisons with nature are hidden in shades behind the lives of female spectacles which aggrieved by society but again more powerful than nature. The simultaneous intertwining of nature and women opens up a whole peculiar narrative that seeks to defy all established conventions which pretty much renders Barsha Basanta Baishakha as an eco-feminist text.

Writing to death row inmates: pen-pals share their experience

ABSTRACT Pen-pal programmes have long been recognised as an effective tool for developing new synergistic friendships. Many organisations and charities around the world utilise similar programmes involving volunteers writing to prisoners. Such a volunteering experience could be regarded as peculiar when taking into consideration the derogatory views that society holds on these individuals. The present study seeks to explore these volunteers’ experience in becoming a pen-pal to a DRI and maintaining the correspondence. A survey was sent to 98 participants from the Sant’Egidio Community, of which 50 participations were included after applying the exclusion criteria. A Thematic Analysis, following a theoretical and semantic approach, generated six main themes from the data: an Emotional Journey, Evolving Friendship Faith, Criticising the Death Penalty, Difficulties, and a Mutually Beneficial Experience. Participants were overall grateful due to having gained a new perspective in life from this experience. To our knowledge, this area is extremely under-researched, and this study adds to knowledge and empirical findings related to this subject. Limitations and implications are discussed.

The Queer Gaze in Bollywood: A Study of LGBTQ+ Representation in the Film “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga”

Bollywood, India's dominant film industry, has long been criticized for marginalizing LGBTQ+ characters, often portraying them through harmful stereotypes or omitting them entirely. However, in recent years, there has been a shift toward more nuanced and respectful representations of LGBTQ+ identities. “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” (2019), directed by Shelly Chopra Dhar, plays a key role in this change. The film focuses on Sweety, a young woman navigating her lesbian identity in a society defined by heteronormative expectations. It explores her emotional journey toward self-acceptance and coming out, highlighting the challenges she faces from her family and society. This paper examines how “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” contributes to the emergence of the "queer gaze" in Bollywood—a perspective that challenges traditional portrayals of love and desire. Through a queer theoretical framework, the study explores how the film disrupts mainstream cinematic conventions and offers a more inclusive representation of LGBTQ+ individuals. It further investigates the film’s role in dismantling long-standing stereotypes about queerness in Indian cinema, moving away from tragic or exaggerated depictions toward authentic portrayals of queer lives. Ultimately, “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” is a pivotal film in Bollywood’s evolving approach to LGBTQ+ narratives. It offers a hopeful, transformative depiction of love that transcends gender and societal expectations, contributing to broader cultural acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ identities in India.

Walking and biking as queer: deviations, care and resistance negotiating Barcelona’s streets

This paper contributes to expanding our understanding of queer mobilities, studying how LGBTQIA+ community members navigate fear and joy while walking and cycling through Barcelona’s still car-dominated streets. It is based on interviews with non-binary people and women (including cisgender, transgender, and intersex) identifying as lesbian, bisexual, or pansexual. The interview included drawing a Relief Map, inviting participants to consider how their multiple identities shape the dis/comfort they feel making different types of journeys. The resultant analysis maps emotional journeys of walking and biking as queer women, shaped by interlocking experiences of oppression, such as misogyny, lesbophobia, transphobia, and racism. It explores how participants (re)orient urban space to create routes of greater comfort, using strategies of resistance and care. These include spatially rendering invisible dissident identities or making themselves visible in spaces of perceived acceptance by publicly showing affection, for instance. While the paper, like others on this topic, uncovers experiences of queer disorientation and fear, it also highlights how participants may experience joyful and liberating experiences by disregarding ‘straight’ paths and creating alternative routes through time and space. Strategies of queer wayfinding and reorientation, rooted in performing gender and sexuality, are usually accompanied by practices of (self-)care and togetherness. They assert queer visibility and insist upon the right to feel comfort. The paper contributes to enriching queer geographies with an understanding of how queer people navigate cities, often by uncovering new paths and senses of belonging. It also explores imagined directions for a future of queer mobilities which caters for participants’ desires and wellbeing.

Semantic Interpretation of Tubuh yang Padam Tersulut Lyrics by Harum Manis

Music and song lyrics serve as universal communication media. Semantic interpretation in song lyrics is intriguing to study due to their often ambiguous language. Words in song lyrics may have literal, metaphorical, or symbolic meanings, depending on context and delivery. This study explores the semantic richness in Harum Manis's Tubuh yang Padam Tersulut, focusing on how its lyrics convey emotions of loss through evocative language. Using qualitative descriptive analysis, this research identifies layers of meaning, including literal and figurative interpretations, highlighting the contextual importance in understanding lyrics. The findings reveal a profound emotional journey, intertwining fond memories and the pain of separation. This study underscores the significance of contextual understanding in interpreting lyrics and offers recommendations for further analyses in literature and music studies.

Nursing students' experiences of a service-learning programme with older adults living in poverty in a high-income country: A phenomenological study.

Nursing students' experiences of a service-learning programme with older adults living in poverty in a high-income country: A phenomenological study.

The Emotional and Economic Journey of Women Using E-commerce

: E-commerce as per its name suggests it is electronic commerce. This platform provides almost all goods and services commercially, or some can be free. This is an online mode, and it provides transactional, digital and business-related environments. However, when considering the emotional and economic journey of women using e-commerce, it’s important to look beyond the transactional nature of e-commerce to explore how it impacts the human experience of women—both emotionally and financially. This paper explores the emotional and economic journey of women engaged in e-commerce, highlighting the ways that digital platforms are changing their roles in business, society, and personal life. Over the past decade, e-commerce has become a potent instrument for women to achieve financial independence, create entrepreneurial ventures, and overcome traditional barriers to appear her present in the business world. However, the economic impact is not the sole benefit. The paper also examines into the emotional transformation experienced by women, such as increased self-confidence, empowerment, and a sense of accomplishment that comes with managing and scaling online businesses. Drawing on qualitative data from case studies, interviews, and surveys, this paper scrutinizeshow women navigate the complex interplay of financial goals and personal fulfillment through their E-commerce ventures. It investigates the challenges women face in a traditionally male-dominated digital space, including gender bias, digital literacy gaps, and balancing business with familial responsibilities. Furthermore, the study highlights the positive emotional outcomes—such as enhanced autonomy, self-expression, and community-building—that often accompany these entrepreneurial pursuits. By focusing on both the economic gains and the emotional rewards, this paper provides a holistic view of e-commerce as a transformative force for women. It argues that e-commerce not only fosters financial independence but also cultivates a sense of agency, pride, and emotional resilience. Finally, the paper offers guidance for enhancing support systems for women entrepreneurs in the digital economy, including targeted education, mentorship, and policy reforms aimed at addressing gender disparities in the e-commerce space. This research aims to contribute to the broader conversation on women's empowerment and the evolving role of digital commerce in promoting gender equity in the global economy.

Lee Harker's Character Development in “Longlegs” Movie

This article examines Lee Harker's character growth in movie "Longlegs", concentrating on her emotional journey and the significance of family ties. The study looks at how Harker's tragic history and psychic talents influence her identity as an FBI agent, drawing on Hurlock's theory on emotional determinants. The movie is divided into three sections, each of which shows a different aspect of Harker's personality as she faces Longlegs, the serial murderer. The results demonstrate how Harker's journey exemplifies more general concepts of morality, autonomy, and the effects of hereditary trauma. The emotional burden of her family history affects her decision-making and interpersonal interactions while she conducts her inquiry, highlighting the significance of emotional intelligence in overcoming hardship. Ultimately, this approach emphasizes how important story is as a tool for examining nuanced human experiences in both literature and film. The article's focus on Harker's character arc illustrates the importance of storytelling in forming social ideals and interpersonal relationships while also enhancing our knowledge of how tales reflect and impact views of trauma and personal progress.

The transfer of care experience in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

To explore the experiences and perceptions of young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) after they transferred care from a pediatric to an adult clinic, utilizing an organized transfer process that included a Diabetes Transition Clinic (DTC) and a transfer letter (TL). This retrospective study used a semi-structured interview 1-1.5 years after transfer of care, which gathered both quantitative and qualitative data of young adults (n=12) who transferred care at an average age of 19.6 years, within a Midwest academic medical center. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data and to identify emerging themes. Most participants were worried about their transfer of care and found attending a DTC valuable. Most found the TL helpful in summarizing their diabetes care. Emerging themes demonstrated the importance of preparing the young adult for change, supporting their emotional journey, and developing connections with their new diabetes team. For young adults with diabetes, the transfer of care from pediatric to adult is a time of apprehension. Incorporating a DTC and TL can facilitate this journey by preparing patients for change and developing ways to deepen connections with new providers.