Original Articles
Living in the Doldrums: The Lived Experience of Dispiritedness in Later Life
Research in Gerontological Nursing
Vol. 3 No. 3 July 2010
By Howard Karl Butcher, PhD, RN, PMHCNS, BC; Meghan L. McGonigal-Kenney, MSN, RN
ABSTRACT
This phenomenological investigation sought to enhance understanding of the experience of dispiritedness by providing a rich and vivid description of the essential structure of the experience in later life. van Manen’s hermeneutic-phenomenological method was used to analyze the transcribed texts of 11 individuals who identified themselves as being in “later life” (mean age = 73, age range = 52 to 93) and who participated in phenomenological interviews focusing on describing the experience of dispiritedness. Statements describing the experience of dispiritedness were sorted into 21 thematic categories that were synthesized into 7 essential themes that described the structure of the lived experience of dispiritedness in later life as Arising From Life’s Trying Transitions, Feeling Disengaged From Meaning, Experiencing a Restricting Loss of Vigor and Animation, Feeling Forlorn Bewilderment, Moving Between Engagement and Disengagement, Remaining Faithful to Enduring Connections, and Engaging in Day-to-Day Living.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. Butcher is Associate Professor, and Ms. McGonigal-Kenney is a doctoral student, The University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. This research was supported by funds from the John A. Hartford Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Post-Doctoral Scholars Program.
Address correspondence to Howard Karl Butcher, PhD, RN, PMHCNS, BC, Associate Professor, The University of Iowa College of Nursing, 442 Nursing Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1121; e-mail: howard-butcher@uiowa.edu.
Received: October 20, 2009; Accepted: February 16, 2010; Posted: June 30, 2010
doi:10.3928/19404921-20100601-04
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