PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to illuminate the meanings of support as disclosed by mothers of children with congenital heart defects (CHD). DESIGN AND METHOD Narrative interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of children with CHD. A phenomenological-hermeneutic method was used for interpretation of the transcribed interviews. RESULTS The comprehensive understanding of mothers' liv...

This paper by John D. Keen and James E. Keen addresses a thorny subject. The numerical findings and commentaries in their paper will be disturbing to some readers and seem to defy logic and well established viewpoints. It may well generate angry letters to the editor. However such numerical analysis and reporting including civil discussion should be welcomed and are the basis for informed decis...

This study contributes to research on race and family ties by exploring racial differences in the direct effects of family support exchanges on daily well-being and the extent to which family support buffers/exacerbates stressor reactivity. African Americans and European Americans aged 34 to 84 (N = 1,931) from the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE) reported on family support exchanges ...

This study explored terminally ill elders' anticipation of future support, which may be particularly important due to their vulnerable state and resulting support needs. Qualitative data was gathered from face-to-face interviews with 100 elders receiving hospice care; 85 of whom discussed anticipating future support. Content analysis revealed that anticipating support was based on current exper...

background disclosure of hiv is important for improving self-care behaviors, psychological well-being, commitment to the treatment, and reducing risk of transmission. one of the major benefits of disclosure is social support, which is an essential resource for effective coping with hiv infection. however, receiving any social support requires disclosing of hiv status. objectives this study aime...