TY - JOUR
T1 - Stigma and the delegitimation experience
T2 - an interpretative phenomenological analysis of people living with chronic fatigue syndrome
AU - Dickson, Adele
AU - Knussen, Christina
AU - Flowers, Paul
PY - 2007/10/1
Y1 - 2007/10/1
N2 - Individual in-depth interviews with 14 people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were conducted, focusing on the experience of living with CFS. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analysed for recurrent themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Here we present two inter-related themes: "Negotiating a diagnosis" and "Negotiating CFS with loved ones". Participants reported delay, negotiation and debate over diagnosis: further, they perceived their GPs to be sceptical, disrespectful and to be lacking in knowledge and interpersonal skills. However, participants found delegitimising encounters with their partners more difficult to deal with. Participants viewed such delegitimation as a form of personal rejection; they were hurt by their loved ones' reactions and subsequently pondered the price of love, respect and friendship. The findings are discussed in relation to extant literature, and recommendations for future research are suggested.
AB - Individual in-depth interviews with 14 people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were conducted, focusing on the experience of living with CFS. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analysed for recurrent themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Here we present two inter-related themes: "Negotiating a diagnosis" and "Negotiating CFS with loved ones". Participants reported delay, negotiation and debate over diagnosis: further, they perceived their GPs to be sceptical, disrespectful and to be lacking in knowledge and interpersonal skills. However, participants found delegitimising encounters with their partners more difficult to deal with. Participants viewed such delegitimation as a form of personal rejection; they were hurt by their loved ones' reactions and subsequently pondered the price of love, respect and friendship. The findings are discussed in relation to extant literature, and recommendations for future research are suggested.
KW - chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
KW - delegitimation
KW - IPA
KW - stigma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547684263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14768320600976224
DO - 10.1080/14768320600976224
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34547684263
SN - 0887-0446
VL - 22
SP - 851
EP - 867
JO - Psychology and Health
JF - Psychology and Health
IS - 7
ER -