Grounded Theory Study Research Articles

A Grounded Theory Study of Couple Caregiving: A Qualitative Study

Aim: Caregiving is fundamental to human relationships and plays a crucial role in the quality and stability of marital relationships. The present study aimed to explain the concept of couple caregiving. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted in 2021, adopting a grounded theory approach. For this purpose, ten couples residing in city of Aligudarz (Iran) were selected based on inclusion criteria and purposive sampling. The sampling continued until data saturation was reached. These individuals were examined through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s (2014) method and the MAXQDA20 software. Findings: The data analysis led to the identification of 78 open codes and 13 axial codes in the form of causal conditions: life history, conscious marriage; contextual conditions: individual and couple contexts; efficient couple relationship; Intervening conditions: behavioral and cognitive facilitating factors; obstacles: personal and environmental stressors; Strategies for sustaining and improving care, and persona; outcomes for the caregiver and care recipient and couple outcomes and the central theme of “reciprocal couple caregiving” was chosen. Conclusions: The findings indicated that factors influencing couple caregiving extend to the time before marriage. Couple caregiving involves conscious marriage and proactive and constructive actions of the couple. It is an interactive and reciprocal process that enhances the insight and awareness of the couple, and the use of care-seeking and caregiving receptivity strategies significantly contributes to its continuity.

Unlocking the Transformative Potential of Outdoor Office Work—A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study

White-collar workers around the world are reconfiguring their ways of working. Some have found their way out, performing office work outdoors, through walk-and-talks, outdoor meetings, or reading sessions. Working outdoors has proved both invigorating and challenging. This qualitative interview study aims to develop a conceptual framework concerning the implications of white-collar workers incorporating the outdoors into their everyday work life. Applying a constructivist grounded theory approach, 27 interviews with a total of 15 participants were systematically analyzed. Findings evolved around the following categories: practicing outdoor office work, challenging the taken-for-granted, enjoying freedom and disconnection, feeling connected and interdependent, promoting health and well-being, enhancing performance, and finally adding a dimension to work. These categories were worked into a conceptual model, building on the dynamic relationship between the practice of working outdoors on one hand, and how this challenges the system in which office work traditionally takes place on the other. Interviews reflected the profound learning process of the employees. Drawing on the concepts of free space and resonance, we demonstrate how performing office work outdoors may unlock a transformative potential by opening up connectedness and interdependence and contribute to a sustainable work life as well as overall sustainable development.

Infertility psychological distress in women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment: A grounded theory study.

While there exists an ample body of research in international contexts focused on the characterization and quantification of infertility psychological distress, the level of scholarly scrutiny directed towards this phenomenon within the context of China remains scant. To investigate the formation and developmental processes of psychological distress associated with infertility and infertility treatment among women within the Chinese cultural context and to construct a theoretical framework that elucidates this phenomenon. Qualitative approach with grounded theory methodology. This study was conducted within the reproductive medicine department of a tertiary-level hospital located in central China from May to August 2023. Twenty-seven women who experienced infertility and underwent assisted reproductive treatment (ART) were interviewed. The interview sessions spanned durations ranging from 20 min to 1 h and 35 min. Data analysis included open coding, axial coding and selective coding. The study is reported using the COREQ checklist. The infertility psychological distress experienced by women undergoing ART is a socially constructed phenomenon influenced by a dynamic interplay of forces that construct and conciliate it. The formation and progression of infertility psychological distress are rooted in the process of self-construction. A Middle-Ranged Theory titled 'self-reconstruction under the dome of infertility and infertility treatment' (SUDIT theory) was developed to explain this phenomenon. Within this framework, infertility psychological distress manifests across three distinct phases under the gambling ofthe constructive force and conciliative force: (1) distress of disrupting the former self; (2) distress linked to the struggling present self; and (3) the renewed-self harmonized with distress. It is imperative for healthcare professionals and policymakers to acknowledge the socially constructed nature of infertility psychological distress, and proactively implement measures aimed at ameliorating it. No patient or public contribution.

Finding Homeplace: A Grounded Theory of a Womanist Affinity Group Intervention for Black Women

ABSTRACT This constructivist grounded theory study explored a 3-year womanist affinity group for Black women across counseling programs at one university. The core category, homeplace, was identified as the foundation of the group process, with four categories: learning the hidden curriculum, expressing collective care, demonstrating womanish empowerment, and becoming the resistance. The affinity space aided identity and professional development, cultural reflection, and collective consciousness. Implications are discussed.

Nurturing an organizational context that supports team-based primary mental health care: A grounded theory study.

The expansion of the Patient-Centred Medical Home model presents a valuable opportunity to enhance the integration of team-based mental health services in primary care settings, thereby meeting the growing demand for such services. Understanding the organizational context of a Patient-Centred Medical Home is crucial for identifying the facilitators and barriers to integrating mental health care within primary care. The main objective of this paper is to present the findings related to the following research question: "What organizational features shape Family Health Teams' capacity to provide mental health services for depression and anxiety across Ontario, Canada?" Adopting a constructivist grounded theory approach, we conducted interviews with various mental health care providers, and administrators within Ontario's Family Health Teams, in addition to engaging provincial policy informants and community stakeholders. Data analysis involved a team-based approach, including code comparison and labelling, with a dedicated data analysis subcommittee convening monthly to explore coded concepts influencing contextual factors. From the 96 interviews conducted, involving 82 participants, key insights emerged on the organizational contextual features considered vital in facilitating team-based mental health care in primary care settings. Five prominent themes were identified: i) mental health explicit in the organizational vision, ii) leadership driving mental health care, iii) developing a mature and stable team, iv) adequate physical space that facilitates team interaction, and v) electronic medical records to facilitate team communication. This study underscores the often-neglected organizational elements that influence primary care teams' capacity to deliver quality mental health care services. It highlights the significance of strong leadership complemented by effective communication and collaboration within teams to enhance their ability to provide mental health care. Strengthening relationships within primary care teams lies at the core of effective healthcare delivery and should be leveraged to improve the integration of mental health care.

Adaptation Process in Husbands of Iranian Women Undergoing Mastectomy From Diagnosis to Terminal Stages of the Disease: A Grounded Theory Study.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second cause of cancer-related death. This research was performed to interpret the adaptation process among husbands of Iranian women undergoing mastectomy. In this grounded theory study, 23 participants were chosen purposefully and via convenient sampling. After interview with them about adaptation and ways of achieving it, note taking was done, which was analyzed via Strauss and Corbin approach. Six themes were extracted: Confrontation with crisis, Challenges and opportunities, husband transformation, supportive systems, attempts for life management, accepting an uninvited guest, with each having subclasses. According to the results of the present study the healthcare team and psychologists should identify this issue properly so that they could apply measures for facilitating the coping and acceptance of the issue in husbands of these patients.

“Just pee in the diaper” - a constructivist grounded theory study of moral distress enabling neglect in nursing homes

BackgroundA growing body of evidence shows that many nursing home residents’ basic care needs are neglected, and residents do not receive qualitatively good care. This neglect challenges nursing staff´s professional and personal ideals and standards for care and may contribute to moral distress. The aim of this study was to investigate how nursing staff manage being a part of a neglectful work culture, based on the research question: “How do nursing home staff manage their moral distress related to neglectful care practices?”MethodsA qualitative design was chosen, guided by Charmaz´s constructivist grounded theory. The study was based on 10 individual interviews and five focus group discussions (30 participants in total) with nursing home staff working in 17 different nursing homes in Norway.ResultsNursing staff strive to manage their moral distress related to neglectful care practices in different ways: by favouring efficiency and tolerating neglect they adapt to and accept these care practices. By disengaging emotionally and retreating physically from care they avoid confronting morally distressing situations. These approaches may temporarily mitigate the moral distress of nursing staff, whilst also creating a staff-centred and self-protecting work culture enabling neglect in nursing homes.ConclusionsOur findings represent a shift from a resident-centred to a staff-centred work culture, whereby the nursing staff use self-protecting strategies to make their workday manageable and liveable. This strongly indicates a compromise in the quality of care that enables the continuation of neglectful care practices in Norwegian nursing homes. Finding ways of breaking a downward spiralling quality of care are thus a major concern following our findings.

Generativity's manifestation in young adults: a grounded theory study

PurposeApplying traditional grounded theory techniques, the present research reanalyzed secondary data from four previously conducted studies to explore how generativity is manifested in young adults.Design/methodology/approachA new conceptual model of generativity was developed to depict how generativity manifests among this age group.FindingsThis study's findings provide leadership educators with a refined approach to interacting with this construct while simultaneously increasing young adults’ potential ability to experience the benefits available to them through generativity at an earlier stage in their lives.Originality/valueThis study advances the field of leadership education by establishing foundational insight into the uniqueness of generativity’s development in young adulthood.

An integrative model of enterprise architecture value: a grounded theory study to position its artifacts

PurposeDespite the relevance of how enterprise architecture (EA) contributes to organizational performance in contemporary digital technology-driven strategic renewal, little is known about the position of EA artifacts. Therefore, this study aims to build an integrative model of EA artifact-enabled EA value supplemented with a research agenda to enhance our understanding further.Design/methodology/approachThis study leveraged grounded theory techniques and a systematic review approach to develop the integrative model and research agenda.FindingsWe inductively build a model of the position of EA artifacts in EA value creation. Additionally, we elaborate a research agenda that proposes (1) an investigation of the role of an EA practice in successful strategic change, (2) an examination of how to manage EA practice value generation and (3) longitudinal research to gain insight into the evolution of value creation by EA practices.Originality/valueThis study presents a model of EA artifact-enabled EA value, thereby contributing to our understanding of the mechanisms, inhibitors and success factors associated with EA value. Following our model, the proposed research agenda contains future research areas to help us better understand the mechanisms and interrelatedness of EA practices in highly dynamic environments.

How exactly do teachers’ identities develop in the study travel?—A grounded theory study from China

This study aimed to explore the identity development of Chinese teachers in study travel activities. The grounded theory method was used for qualitative research, and 51 primary school teachers were selected to conduct semi–structured interviews and focus group interviews through theoretical sampling methods. The research results demonstrated that most teachers were in a pseudo-developmental state, and the core feature causing this phenomenon was the mismatch between teachers’ value recognition of study travel activities and their actual engagement. This study had relevant conclusions and application significance for understanding and promoting teachers’ identity development in different situations.

Modelling of physicians’ clinical information-seeking behaviour in Iran: a grounded theory study

ObjectivesExploring clinical information-seeking behaviour (CISB) and its associated factors contributes to its theoretical advancement and offers a valuable framework for addressing physicians’ information needs. This study delved into the dimensions,...

Adult Maltese Women's Understanding of How Childhood Domestic Violence Has Impacted Their Relationships with Their Parents and Siblings: A Grounded Theory Study.

Most of the literature that has looked at children's relationships with their parents in the domestic violence context has focused solely on the children's relationship with one parent or is studied from the perspective of one parent, usually the mother. Sibling relationships in the same context are also under-studied. This paper explores in more detail the complexity of children's relationships with their mothers, fathers, and siblings over time from the perspective of adult women and survivors of childhood domestic violence. Methods: A grounded theory methodology was used to analyse the interviews with 15 women aged twenty to forty-three years of age living in Malta. Results: the analysis showed that the domestic violence context remains significant in these important relationships for these women. The relationship with the father remains strongly influenced by the dynamics of fear, love, and retaliation, with cycles of cut-off and connection from the adult daughter's end. The relationship with the mother is complicated-feelings of love that are seen as having been limited and complicated by betrayal if there was abuse from the mother. Similarly, for the siblings, the roles of the early family of origin remain persistent and significant. However, in some of these relationships, there has been transformation, reconciliation, and forgiveness. The article offers implications for therapeutic practice for dealing with the complexity of these relationships and ideas for future research.

Rehabilitation of Individuals with Special Educational Needs through Music: An Accreditation Model Proposal.

This study aims to eliminate the current deficiency in the use of music in the field of special education, to increase musical activities in special education, and to present an accreditation model proposal to increase the skills of institutions, educators, and students. The research was designed with a grounded theory study pattern, one of the qualitative research methods. Data for the research were collected examining the necessary documents, and through semi-structured interviews with experts in both the field of special education and music. As a result of the interviews, it was concluded that music was used as both a goal and a tool in the education of individuals receiving special education and that different skills were developed through rhythm, melody, and lyrics. It has been revealed that individuals' body coordination skills are improved through the rhythm in music, self-care skills are improved through melodies and lyrics, and behavioral disorders are corrected through rhythm, melodies, and lyrics. All these results led to the emergence of an accreditation model proposal to develop and rehabilitate individuals receiving special education through music.

Orchestrating Care: A Grounded Theory Study of Family Caregiving for Older Adults in Rural Areas.

Family caregivers provide the majority of long-term care and support of older adults as they age or approach the end of life. Studies often refer to family caregivers as invisible because the American healthcare system, public policy, and society do not support or recognize their work. Family caregivers who provide care to older adults who live in rural areas face unique challenges due to the rural environment. The purpose of this study was to inductively develop a theoretical framework that explains the process of family caregiving to older adults who live at home in rural areas and require daily assistance while exploring their experiences regarding access, utilization, challenges, and effectiveness of patient healthcare services and caregiver resources in rural areas. The grounded theory method of Strauss and Corbin was used for sampling, data collection, and data analysis. Fifteen family caregivers who oversaw and/or provided care on a daily basis to an older adult living in two rural counties of New York State participated in the study. Data were collected through two semi-structured interviews with each participant, yielding 30 interviews. Findings revealed that family caregivers engaged in the process of orchestrating care by growing into caregiving, integrating technology, and utilizing networks when providing and managing caregiving. Understanding caregiving from the perspective of family caregivers engaged in the process can inform healthcare practice, healthcare education, and public policy and can support better outcomes for both older adults and their family caregivers.

Explosive and Harmful Impulses: A Subset of Child and Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Abuse.

"Filial harm" refers to harms experienced by a parent and caused by their child, with increasing umbrella terminology developing to capture all forms of harm despite differing experiences and contexts. In this paper, based on a Glaserian Grounded Theory study underpinned by participatory research principles, this work utilized diaries and interactive interviews with 34 parents and arts-based workshops with 21 children to develop a new terminology and approach to child and adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse when harm does not have a clear intent. Explosive and harmful impulses refer to preadolescents experiencing proactive, reactive, affective, and relational harms and needs. These specific forms of filial harm are based upon underlying needs, and the maladaptive ways children may attempt to meet their needs result in filial harm as an unintended consequence rather than being a form of harm with intent. Using an approach that captures subsections of filial harm, there is opportunity to better represent the nuance of individual family experiences and could provide more appropriate language and interventions that better represent the language used by families themselves. Future interventions, support pathways, and research with families living with explosive and harmful impulses could use the provided framework to understand why children are attempting to meet their needs in harmful ways and to consider less harmful methods of support.

“Sharenting to define mothering”: A grounded theory study of middle-class mothers in urban China

Sharenting, the practice of sharing parenting experiences on social media, has become a prevalent mothering practice across the world, including in China. This paper explored how Chinese mothers defined, constructed, and reconstructed their mothering through sharenting. Using a grounded theory approach, we conducted semistructured interviews with 23 urban middle-class mothers in China. Synthesis of the results revealed three distinct functions of sharenting that reflect a unique mixture of Western feminism and Chinese neo-familism: reinforcing mothering and motherhood, extending mothering through sharenting, and redefining mothering through sharenting. Furthermore, three discourses emerged: intensive motherhood, moral motherhood, and scientific motherhood. These findings provide vivid and nuanced evidence about the Chinese ways of shaping mothering through sharenting, deepening our understanding of sharenting as both empowering and oppressing the manifestation of mothering outside Western contexts.

“To do or not to do”, male nurses’ experiences of providing intimate care to female patients in China, a constructivist grounded theory study

BackgroundSome studies suggest that female patients have more concerns about receiving intimate care from male than female nurses. Thus, providing intimate care to female patients is a challenging experience for male nurses. The purpose of this study was to explore Chinese male nurses’ experiences and process of providing intimate clinical care to female patients.MethodsA constructivist grounded theory approach was used to develop a theoretical understanding of male nurses’ experiences. This study included participants from 3 hospitals in different locations in China. Twenty-five male nurses were recruited using purposive and theoretical sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data analysis was completed using initial coding, focused coding, theoretical coding and memo writing to produce core concepts and categories, and theory development.ResultsChinese male nurses’ experiences of providing intimate care to female patients can be constructed as a three-stage process: (1) anticipation of the level of embarrassment, (2) deciding on the process: do it or not do it and (3) protecting both parties and dealing with embarrassment. Additionally, seven themes and associated categories were identified to represent the important factors in the process of male nurses providing intimate care to female patients in China.ConclusionsChinese traditional culture may affect the embarrassment in Chinese male nurses providing intimate care to female patients. The embarrassing situation can be divided into three different stages, and male nurses have different main concerns in each stage. Hospital nursing administrators should consider the experiences and needs of male nurses in providing intimate care and provide them with psychological support, education and training.

Maternity care for women from ethnic minority backgrounds in North-West England: A grounded theory study

AimTo understand the maternity experiences of women from minority ethnic groups who had given birth in an NHS trust in the North-West of England, and experiences of midwives caring for them. BackgroundWomen from minority ethnic groups have poorer maternity outcomes compared with other women. Research about maternity experiences of women from minority ethnic groups is limited but suggests that they have poorer experiences. MethodConstructivist grounded theory was used as the framework for the study. Thirteen women and sixteen midwives were interviewed to elicit views and maternity experiences of women from minority ethnic groups. Interviews were transcribed, analysed and focused codes developed into theoretical codes resulting in an emergent grounded theory.Findings: Four sub-categories emerged: ‘I was feeling protected’, ‘it is just literally empowering them, ‘it will affect them more’, and ‘if people speak out it will help other people’. These sub-categories generated a substantive theory: ‘striving towards equity and women centred care’. DiscussionCulturally sensitive, relational care made women feel safe and trust their care providers. Information provision led to reassurance and enabled women to make choices about their care. Midwives’ workload compromised care provision and disproportionally affected women from minority ethnic groups, especially those who do not speak English. Women from minority groups are less likely to complain and be represented in feedback. ConclusionCulturally sensitive care is meeting the individual needs of many women; however, non– English speakers are disproportionally and negatively affected by midwives’ workload, attitudes, or service challenges, reducing their reassurance and choice.

Health Management of Working Pregnant Nurses: A grounded theory study.

To explore the recognition of pregnant nurses on how they managed their health conditions to examine safe working strategies. A qualitative study with a grounded theory approach. Twenty-one nurses engaged in work during their pregnancy were recruited and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire from January to June 2021. The data were analysed using a constant comparative method. The core category 'duelling roles' and the four other categories emerged. Pregnant nurses understand the 'weight of one' of being a professional in the workplace. Therefore, despite their health concerns, they struggle to complete their work as one team member to avoid inconveniencing others. However, through experiencing various nursing situations, they 'perceive one's limits' of working as they had done before pregnancy and protect their health and patients. Nevertheless, interactions with patients and their colleagues bring 'delight in nursing', which encourages them to continue working. Pregnant nurses thus develop a 'prioritizing the foetus' working style to continue being nurses while protecting their health. These results provide meaningful guidance in considering safe job retention strategies for pregnant nurses. Sharing and developing the 'prioritizing the foetus' mindset and management skills gained by the participants may be beneficial for the appropriate health management of pregnant nurses. The study may also facilitate nursing managers' understanding of the experiences of pregnant nurses and encourage them to consider reviewing nursing practices. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies checklist was used to ensure the quality of research reporting. Members of the nursing team were involved in the design, conduct and interpretation of the data in this study.

Perceptions Related to Death in Adolescents and Their Parents During the Management of Type 1 Diabetes: A Thematic Analysis

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increased risk of premature death compared to those without T1D, yet perceptions of dying have not been well studied. The purpose of this secondary analysis of existing data was to explore the fears of adolescents with T1D and their parents related to the possibility of death due to T1D. A reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine data from interviews conducted with adolescents with T1D and their parents who participated in a primary grounded theory study of interdependence in T1D management. Three themes were generated from the data including: (1) Facing the Reality of Death, (2) Fearing Highs and Lows, and (3) Finding a Way through Fears. Participants indicated they see death as a consequence of failing to optimally manage T1D. Additional investigation is needed to explore the fear of death in adolescents with T1D and any fear their parents may have of their adolescents' mortality.