A Phenomenological Study on Lived Experience of Suffering in Suicide Attempters

Moon Hee Ko; Miok Lee; Myungsun Yi

doi:10.12934/jkpmhn.2013.22.4.339

Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.22(4) > 1057989

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Ko, Lee, and Yi: A Phenomenological Study on Lived Experience of Suffering in Suicide Attempters

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2013; 22(4): 339-348.

Published online: 31 December 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2013.22.4.339

A Phenomenological Study on Lived Experience of Suffering in Suicide Attempters

Moon Hee Ko¹, Miok Lee¹, Myungsun Yi²

¹Department of Nursing, Chodang University, Muan, Korea.

²Seoul National University College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Lee, Miok. Department of Nursing, Chodang University, Muaneup, Muan 534-701, Korea. Tel: +82-61-450-1816, Fax: +82-61-450-1801, okmilee@cdu.ac.kr

Received 28 October 2013 Revised 12 December 2013 Accepted 23 December 2013

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to understand essential meanings of suffering experienced by suicide attempters.

Methods

Data were collected in 2009 through individual narrative interviews from 7 suicide attempters. Texts from literary works and movies containing suicide were also included as data. Data were analyzed using the hermeneutic phenomenology of van Manen.

Results

Thirteen themes were identified in four dimensions. In the dimension of 'lived body', 'unbearably sweet temptation to death', 'body surrendered by emotional damage', 'chaos in life and death', 'squashed body by the heavy weight of life', and 'loss of meaning in life' were identified. 'The black hole, one is not able to get out' represents the experience in the dimension of 'lived space', 'The moment on the edge of a profound abyss' and 'the worst present and hopeless future' represent 'lived time'. In the dimension of 'lived human relation', 'I who am alone in the world', 'fear of being abandoned', 'unbreakable relationship trap', 'I who am not recognized' and 'guilty feeling' were included.

Conclusion

Results of the study should be helpful in developing personalized suicide prevention programs by showing the various types of suffering deeply ingrained into the personal history of suicide attempters.

Keywords: Attempted suicide, Qualitative research, Psychological stress, Personal narratives, Life change events

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Participants

PT=psychiatric treatment; AP=alcoholic problem; NRE=non regular employee; FTE=full-time employee.

Table 2

Major Themes of Sufferings in Suicide Attempters

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