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Cho: Meaning of Life in Wives of Alcoholics: Autobiographical Method
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2008; 38(5): 758-767.

Published online: 30 October 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2008.38.5.758

Meaning of Life in Wives of Alcoholics: Autobiographical Method

Sunhee Cho

Research Fellow, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College of City University of New York, NY, USA.

Address reprint requests to: Cho, Sunhee. Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College of City University of New York, 425 East, 25th Street, Box #922, New York, NY 10010, USA. Tel: 1-212-481-4346, Fax: 1-212-481-8237, sch0076@hunter.cuny.edu

Received 9 April 2008       Accepted 9 October 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe life-stories and meanings of life in wives of alcoholics by analyzing their autobiographies.

Methods

Autobiographies were collected from 20 participants who produced their own autobiographies in the logotherapeutic autobiography program at community alcohol counseling centers in Korea. The data were coded to identify themes of agency and communion using the manual coding system developed by McAdams, and analyzed by the existential approach.

Results

There were 214 coded episodes in twenty autobiographies. There were 128 agency themes and 86 communion themes. The most common themes were Love/Friendship. Five themes emerged from the autobiographical episodes on the existential perspective: 1) overcoming the suffering, 2) meaningful people and relationships, 3) spiritual maturation, 4) caring and helping, and 5) finding a meaning of life.

Conclusion

These results showed that the wives of alcoholics who participated in the logotherapeutic autobiography program found the meaning of life through their suffering. Furthermore, a study on existential nursing interventions for people who have meaninglessness in life needs to be done.

Keywords: Alcoholism, Autobiography, Existentialism, Qualitative research, Spouses

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Fundamental Structure of Logotherapeutic Autobiography Program (LAP)
jkan-38-758-i001
Table 2
Guideline for Coding Autobiographical Episodes
jkan-38-758-i002

SM=Self-Mastery; SV=Status/Victory; AR=Achievement/Responsibility; EM=Empowerment; LF=Love/Friendship; DG=Dialogue; CH=Caring/Help; UT=Unity/Togetherness.

Table 3
Numbers of Autobiographical Episodes Coded by Themes
jkan-38-758-i003

SM=Self-Mastery; SV=Status/Victory; AR=Achievement/Responsibility; EM=Empowerment; LF=Love/Friendship; DG=Dialogue; CH=Caring/Help; UT=Unity/Togetherness.

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