Thriving--a useful theoretical perspective to capture the experience of well-being among frail elderly in nursing homes?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to discuss the concept of thriving and its adequacy in describing the experience of well-being among physically frail nursing home residents.


BACKGROUND
There is a lack of theoretical perspectives describing nursing home residents' experience of well-being.


METHODS
The article is based on a literature review and analysis of how the concept of thriving is used in different professional traditions. Three different theoretical perspectives are presented: (1) thriving as an outcome of growth and development; (2) thriving as a psychological state; (3) thriving as an expression of physical health state. In the second part of the paper, the three perspectives are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors suggest that there is a need to develop a new concept: that of thriving in physically frail nursing home residents. The article discusses how each of the three theoretical perspectives may contribute to the formation of this concept.
Bergland
A
A
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. adel.bergland@sykepleivit.uio.no
Kirkevold
M
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009013:Morale; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results