The Determinants of Health and Well-Being as Perceived by Senior Rural Women in Southwestern Saskatchewan
Date
1997
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of
health and well-being as perceived by rural senior women. These
perceptions are of value to determine what sustains these women in
a rural environment. The study area included three rural
municipalities (RMs) within the Prairie Ecosystem Study (PECOS)
project in southwestern Saskatchewan.
A phenomenological qualitative study was implemented.
Twenty-nine rural women between 55 and 75 years of age, the
formative retirement years, were interviewed utilizing an interview
guide. The Q.S.R. NUD*IST (© 1990) computer program was used to
assist in the sorting and collating of the categories and themes
emerging from the transcribed data. The data for analysis also
included: (a) field notes collected over the course of the research
process and (b) participant observation with personal reflections
by the researcher. The conceptual framework for this study was the
Mandala of Health-a Model of the Human Ecosystem developed by
the Department of Public Health, City of Toronto.
Three major categories of themes emerged from the data
analysis: (1) the aging/maturation process, (2) the community
(social) support systems, and (3) the family support system. It is
suggested that these thematic categories are of importance for the
self-perceived health and well-being of the women in this study and
for their sustainability in a rural environment.
At the conclusion of the thesis, the emerging principal themes
and their significance are discussed. The implications for nursing
and for the PECOS study are also addressed.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Degree
Master of Nursing (M.N.)
Department
Nursing
Program
Nursing